Saturday, 23 March 2024

Frank Skinner, 30 Years of Dirt. King's Theatre, Glasgow. Saturday 23rd March, 2024


Frank Skinner announced on his radio show today that Absolute Radio was not renewing his contract after fifteen years at the station. He's now sixty-seven. He said he was, in recent times, "ever-more becoming Grandad from The Simpsons". I have to report that, based on tonight's performance, it didn't show. Even with all his muscular stretches at the start, he's still a limber comedian. 

He won the Perrier Award for Best Comedy Show in 1991, but I'd yet to see him perform a full standup show, having only caught him once as part of a mixed-bill late-night lineup at the Fringe one year. Obviously, I'd seen him on TV back in the day and found him cheeky, smutty, and incredibly funny. Then he went all lad culture with his Fantasy Football League show, and I lost interest. 

This return to the stage was much lauded, with plenty of five-star reviews plus a run in the West End. He's not racist or sexist but does have a wicked, impish sense of humour peppered with occasional vulgarity. His style is conversational, often bantering with the front row as a segue way into his next topic.  The punchlines feel so natural, as does the casual way he dismisses heckles. Yet, there is great skill at work here, making everything sound so effortless yet achingly funny. At one point, when we're ahead of him in the joke, he admits, "Sometimes you should think of me like HelloFresh. I deliver all the comedy ingredients so you can cook up the delicious punchline." (Or something like that).

His support act was Pierre Novellie, his current sidekick from his radio show. I saw him support Phil Wang almost a year ago, and he hadn't changed much, even wearing the same outfit. I did find him funnier, though, possibly because he incorporated much more local material into his set, winning over the audience. Like Frank, his style is laid back and conversational with a great deal of craft going into his phrasing. They complemented each other well. Shame he'll also be out of work now the radio show is stopping.

The audience's age was definitely skewed towards those eligible for imminent retirement planning advice. Not the lady sitting on my left, though. She was a young thing (comparatively) who supped a pint, chatted with her pal and occasionally allowed her leg to stray up against mine. It's funny how I didn't mind this yet inwardly was incensed if the man on my right even nudged my other leg. I guess there's still inequality between the sexes. 

Ticket Price: £32.96 inc fees from ATG.
 
The pre-show view from Grand Circle, row B


 

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