Show Details
Paul Foot: Most Wanted
Show type: Edinburgh Fringe 2003
Starring Comic:
Paul Foot

Paul Foot: Most Wanted


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Description

A shambolic, improvised rant - running time 54 minutes, 33 seconds. Inspired by watching his dad's glasses fly off upon tripping over the pouffe, and other harrowing lounge-based scenes.

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Reviews

Original Review:

Show Rating:Paul Foot: Most Wanted rated 2/5

Paul Foot isn't so much a comedian, as an anti-comedian. His uncertain, rambling delivery and punchline-free routines continually flirt with failure - and failure often triumphs.

He ambles along the precipice of comedy, always on the verge of losing his entire audience. Then occasionally an offbeat line or unexpected non sequiteur will bring at least some of them back on his side.

But he's victim to the law of diminishing returns, and by the end of the show, he has alienated almost everyone.

That's not to say he hasn't got charm - he's got shedloads of the stuff - yet he wilfully makes his routine uncomfortable to watch, punctuated only by the occasional sniggers of relief when you realise he's not quite so drab as he makes out.

He has some lovely ideas. His self-referential clipboard routine was inspired, but ultimately (b) highly irritating, and a verbal recreation of the monotony of You've Been Framed doesn't quite crystallise into the gem it could be.

And a large chunk of the show is given over to a crime lecture. "But to get to it, I have to go through this piss-poor link," he explains in one of his more endearing moments.

Again, this extended routine is seriously misguided, utterly ill thought-out and shambolically delivered- which is, of course, the joke. But that doesn't stop any of these things being true.

Foot's chosen a brave path, to try to get laughs from his own awkwardness. But it's a very fragile persona to pull off, the distinction between a genuinely bad comedian and the comedy of the genuinely bad too easily blurred.

Foot hasn't yet got the ability to pull it off, especially not for a whole hour. Hopefully he one day will - and fulfil his potential to be a unique voice in comedy - but that day's not today.
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Comments

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Just stumbled upon this... and 8 years on it makes for amusing reading. It seems Paul still maintains the ability to un-nerve and split a room, and yes, people still walk out. But if it is at all possible he has refined his unique brand of anti comedy...I guess that perhaps more connoisseurs are 'in' on the non-joke.

Lucy, October 2011

Amazing! And it is true, he has a very unique stand-up routine, but as said before, you get it or you don't. I am glad to find a comedian who can make me laugh in a clearly unusual and unique way.

Ariana, July 2008

Complete self-indulgent drivel

Dave, August 2003

Unusual, awkward but hilarious. The most original stand-up show I saw this year and possibly the prototype for something very very special indeed.

Iain, August 2003

Brilliant.

James Cook, August 2003

Myself and friends I took to see him were doubled up with laughter for the entire hour. He seems to be one of those comedians you either get or you don't. I just hope he sticks at it until everyone realises what a genius he is.

Ed, August 2003

Really really poor. A very strange conception of what's funny

Jo, August 2003

I am frankly angry that this man has taken an hour of my life. He has the ability to reduce an audience to deafening silence and have people looking at their watches within five minutes - a true skill, but not one that should be developed by a comedian. Some contributors think him unique - this he is, a man so unfunny he makes Jim Davidson seem like a genius.

Stephen Black, August 2003

A true talent in our midst! Worth every penny. I loved it - you either 'get' Paul or you don't. If you don't, just go back to your meat and potatoes comics with their 'a funny thing happened to me on the way in...'

Daniel, August 2003

Absolutely brilliant - the most I've laughed in any show at the festival.

Emily, August 2003

When I saw his show the majority of the audience clearly loved it, several people going over to talk to Paul afterwards to say how brilliant he was.

Jess, August 2003

Nothing short of a disgrace - give up now

Gregor Gillies, August 2003

Brilliant - strongly recommended.

Jessica, August 2003

Possibly the most painful 60 mins I have ever sat through. If there were not people sitting between myself and the door, then I would have left after ten mins.

Tony Wood, August 2003

What a huge disappointment. Having seen Paul a few years ago on TV I had high hopes and attended with a large group of friends. His show was utterly pathetic and resulted in most people walking out. Frankly he should pack it in! He has no material what so ever and is a disgrace to comedy

Ben Short, August 2003

Absolute rubbish

Ang, August 2003

A unique talent. Fantastic.

Mark, August 2003

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