Andrew Bird: This Is Ten Years From Now
Note: This review is from 2008
Review by Steve Bennett
Andrew Bird left school a decade ago, and in those years he has become, to all intents and purposes, a grown up. He leads the audience effortlessly round his childhood perceptions and predictions of the future and examines the adult mindset which views ‘childishness’ as something to be frowned upon.Bird certainly does not agree with this concept, gleefully retelling superbly crafted, funny anecdotes from his past and present and reveling in the immaturity of his grown-up life.
This show is not an indulgent trip down memory lane though, it is a beautifully observed and insightful piece of storytelling which doesn’t scrimp on the laughs. Bird manages to make very personal stories accessible to the audience, introducing childhood chums and characters that have been integral or fleeting in his life with such warmth and detail that one can immediately relate with them.
Bird has a personable and charming delivery that engages the audience, even the slight disruption of one of the crowd tonight passing back and forth across the stage as they made several trips to and from the room didn’t break the spell. Bird has been diligent with structuring the hour with callbacks and tie-ins which holds the audience’s attention and draws them deeper into the running narrative.
The only weakness appears when Bird leaves the stage after asking the audience to remain in place to listen to a voicemail from one of the childhood friends we have heard so much about. After such a strong build-up and a skillfully concluded show, this audio is unnecessary, anti-climactic and simply not very funny.
This indulgence is forgivable as it is the only flab on what is not only an entertaining story but a very funny hour of fine stand-up.
Reviewed by: Corry Shaw
Review date: 1 Jan 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
