Terry Saunders – Original Review

Note: This review is from 2008

Review by Steve Bennett

Charmingly mild-mannered Terry Saunders stretches the definition of what a stand-up should be – which could be good news or bad, depending on your expectations.

He’s much more of a storyteller than a raucous gagsmith; with absorbing yarns that are endearingly amusing in a low-key way rather than laugh-out-loud funny. There is a smattering of witty lines in the telling, and he certainly knows his way around the English language, ensuring a sweetly entertaining experience sure to raise a warm smile. But belly-laughs? Forget it.

It will come as no surprise given his soft, low-key delivery that Saunders doesn’t see himself as an alpha-male, and many of his anecdotes have him dealing – usually ineptly - with a world that expects him to behave that proscribed masculine way, from his encounter with the savvy storekeeper in the DIY stop to going on a first date.

But this bearded, becardiganed outsider is a romantic at heart, rather like his obvious inspiration Daniel Kitson, and there is a warm, poetic wanting for the world to be a better place at the heart of almost all his material: even the bit about his obviously racist dad.

Saunders is certainly a skilful exponent of beguiling, whimsical comedy. It’s a sub-genre that’s certainly in vogue, and if you like your stand-up this way, he won’t disappoint. But for a riot of hard-hitting laughs, you’d probably be best advised to look elsewhere.

Review date: 18 Nov 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

Live comedy picks

We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.