May 26, 2011
Dryer than a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and posher than a flute of Champagne, Simon Evans is a late bloomer of the UK stand-up scene and a master of the sardonic put-down.
Evans matches his aloof stage presence with a deliberately haughty vocabulary, to leave the audience in no doubt of his socially elevated status. Evans’ class is key to his routine, as he plays off his privileged lifestyle (he can’t resist references to pony rides and Harrow) to make a succession of snooty and insulting observations. No one, it seems, is safe, as Evans spits contemptuous barbs against fat people, the homeless and anyone hailing from “the wasteland of the North”.
While Evans’ subject matter is disappointingly ordinary, his material is saved from being mundane by his imaginatively original observations. At his best, Evans relays his plans to fight obesity through government-backed space hopper schemes, and urges en-masse public defecation in McDonalds. Yet this was a show of comedic peaks and troughs. While his take on obesity was amusing enough to prompt scattered applause, Evans’ heartfelt diatribe on consumerism – while commendable - was long-winded and could have done with more gags.
Evans’ comedy is as carefully crafted as his persona. His jokes are patiently and methodically built up, and on the whole, the punch-lines are worth waiting for. Whether or not you share his disdain for his victims, there is something very compelling about Evans’ confident delivery and charismatic grin, and I found myself laughing along almost in spite of myself.
If dry, sharp wit coupled with a whimsical arrogance is your comedy cup of tea, this show is a must-see. But if you are easily offended – or speak with a regional accent - you might want to stay away.
Evans matches his aloof stage presence with a deliberately haughty vocabulary, to leave the audience in no doubt of his socially elevated status. Evans’ class is key to his routine, as he plays off his privileged lifestyle (he can’t resist references to pony rides and Harrow) to make a succession of snooty and insulting observations. No one, it seems, is safe, as Evans spits contemptuous barbs against fat people, the homeless and anyone hailing from “the wasteland of the North”.
While Evans’ subject matter is disappointingly ordinary, his material is saved from being mundane by his imaginatively original observations. At his best, Evans relays his plans to fight obesity through government-backed space hopper schemes, and urges en-masse public defecation in McDonalds. Yet this was a show of comedic peaks and troughs. While his take on obesity was amusing enough to prompt scattered applause, Evans’ heartfelt diatribe on consumerism – while commendable - was long-winded and could have done with more gags.
Evans’ comedy is as carefully crafted as his persona. His jokes are patiently and methodically built up, and on the whole, the punch-lines are worth waiting for. Whether or not you share his disdain for his victims, there is something very compelling about Evans’ confident delivery and charismatic grin, and I found myself laughing along almost in spite of myself.
If dry, sharp wit coupled with a whimsical arrogance is your comedy cup of tea, this show is a must-see. But if you are easily offended – or speak with a regional accent - you might want to stay away.