Ex-Red Dwarfer Lovett's personality is attractive, but this show needs an editor
In a basement under Leicester Square, 67-year-old Norman Lovett is putting a dog-poo bag on his head. And why not? "I just thought, well, gets a laugh," says Norman: "Do it." Such is the prevailing philosophy behind this touring show by the veteran standup and ex-Red Dwarf star. Initially, it's a pleasure to be seduced by Lovett's Droopy Dog demeanour and easygoing approach to mirth generation. But there comes a point where you want someone to work harder for your entertainment. The central section of this show is fatally underpowered, as Lovett scrolls through a slideshow of occasionally droll images, accompanied more by meandering stream-of-consciousness than jokes.
It's a shame, because the personality is immediately attractive: diffident, "doddering" (his own word) and quizzically amused that we're all gathered to listen to him. And there's a streak of devilment, too. He mentions ageism in society, pauses, then says, matter-of-factly: "I do blame old people for that…" There's a shambling anecdote about offending Uri Geller with a banana, and a lovable set-piece that sees him lip-synching to the Sugababes. And his prop comedy is endearingly simple, as he wafts a plastic bag around like an airy jellyfish, or smirks at us through comedy false teeth.
But the show really needs an editor, or a whip cracked in its direction. His wilfully inconsequential slide display saps energy from the room, as Lovett waffles about the Wasabi fast-food chain, or protests at Carol Vorderman's ubiquity. Often, it's not even pretending to be comedy; it's just chat, with intermittent silences as we wonder whether we're meant to answer his trivial questions ("has anyone tried the chicken curry for £4.95?"). I don't expect all-singing, all-dancing from a man whose most famous role is as a talking head, but too much of this is too listless.
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Rating: 2/5 Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 hours ago.
In a basement under Leicester Square, 67-year-old Norman Lovett is putting a dog-poo bag on his head. And why not? "I just thought, well, gets a laugh," says Norman: "Do it." Such is the prevailing philosophy behind this touring show by the veteran standup and ex-Red Dwarf star. Initially, it's a pleasure to be seduced by Lovett's Droopy Dog demeanour and easygoing approach to mirth generation. But there comes a point where you want someone to work harder for your entertainment. The central section of this show is fatally underpowered, as Lovett scrolls through a slideshow of occasionally droll images, accompanied more by meandering stream-of-consciousness than jokes.
It's a shame, because the personality is immediately attractive: diffident, "doddering" (his own word) and quizzically amused that we're all gathered to listen to him. And there's a streak of devilment, too. He mentions ageism in society, pauses, then says, matter-of-factly: "I do blame old people for that…" There's a shambling anecdote about offending Uri Geller with a banana, and a lovable set-piece that sees him lip-synching to the Sugababes. And his prop comedy is endearingly simple, as he wafts a plastic bag around like an airy jellyfish, or smirks at us through comedy false teeth.
But the show really needs an editor, or a whip cracked in its direction. His wilfully inconsequential slide display saps energy from the room, as Lovett waffles about the Wasabi fast-food chain, or protests at Carol Vorderman's ubiquity. Often, it's not even pretending to be comedy; it's just chat, with intermittent silences as we wonder whether we're meant to answer his trivial questions ("has anyone tried the chicken curry for £4.95?"). I don't expect all-singing, all-dancing from a man whose most famous role is as a talking head, but too much of this is too listless.
• Did you catch this show – or any other recently? Tell us about it using #gdnreview
Rating: 2/5 Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 hours ago.