So likeable, he had us laughing at United
by Sam Wonfor, The Journal
Michael McIntyre at The Journal Tyne Theatre
AS a natural pessimist who endeavours to look on the bright side, I was feeling nervous.
The curtain was about to come up on Michael McIntyre and I feared crushing disappointment was en route.
My search for the positive (together with my small-screen experiences of the slightly posh stand-up and his statically-charged yet floppy hair) had left me expecting so much, while the side of me who always asks for a top-up because the glass is clearly half empty was predicting a big fat letdown.
Oh, how I love it when my inner sceptic gets a darn good slapping.
From the moment the curtain rose, and the first of many latecomers arrived to a smile-infused rollicking from the Muswell Hill-born son of plaudit-winning comedy writer Ray Cameron, the sell-out crowd were 100% with him – and didn’t move a muscle.
For those who have not yet had the pleasure (keep your eyes on panel shows like Mock The Week, Have I Got News and 8 out of 10 Cats), McIntyre’s chosen comedy discipline is observational humour – the minutiae of everyday life which mostly passes us by until somebody like him shows us why we should be figuratively wetting ourselves most of the time.
Gloating at the plight of traffic jam victims, the central heating dilemma which comes with the autumnal equinox, the Mars/Venus quirks which divide household chores and hardware, a musing over what would happen if two limp handshakers had to greet one another and the shopping phenomenon which is Argos are simply a sample of the subjects which got stage time.
There was also time for a bit of customised comedy for a Geordie crowd – and it is a mark of how likeable this fella is that he could even ridicule the state of our football club and still get a laugh. Mind you, it was a lot easier to smile when he revealed his loyalty to Spurs.
I can’t stand it when people try to retell a standup’s set (although I’m sometimes the worst culprit) so I won’t attempt it here.
Suffice to say, all we had hoped for (when it came to altitude, my other half’s hopes were matching mine) was more than catered for – and then some. Having only really seen him behind a panel show desk, the physical comedy element was a big surprise, with a spectacular impression of all-dancing Big Brother contestant Dennis standing out as a particular highlight.
And any worries that he wouldn’t be able to keep us giggling like chocolate-ridden children for 90 minutes were put firmly to bed by our disappointment to see the house lights come up.
He finishes his tour at Durham’s Gala Theatre on November 17, which is also the day his DVD comes out. If you can’t get a ticket, get a DVD instead. Go on, it’s nearly Christmas, when you’re not allowed to treat yourself at all. This could be your last chance until 2009.
