Press

edinburghguide.com review of SLY

Richard Herring: Someone Likes Yoghurt. (Page 53).

Drams None.
Venue The Pleasance(Venue 33).
Address 60, the Pleasance.
Reviewer Leanna Rance.

For my money Richard Herring, delivers the sexiest, most seductive comedy on the Fringe. That's official.

After last years 'Twelve Tasks of Hercules Terrace' it's gratifying to see him return in 2005 with Someone Likes Yoghurt, sans props, doing what he does best - analytical, complex, eloquent, one-man-and-his-ego style stand-up.

It would be remiss to not at least acknowledge some synergistic overlap with his long-time collaborator Stewart Lee - both currently exhibiting more than a passing interest in one major theme - religion. Whilst Lee attacks the subject with ideological rage and fervour, Herring slyly unpicks various seams of hypocrisy by underscoring the often farcical and absurd nature of our theological traditions.

Tonight we tackle such burning issues as the hoo-ha surrounding Pope John Paul II dying, collectively ruminate upon why we should shun menstruating women (don't ask - but it's side-splittingly funny), and deal with such profound spiritual questions as "is Jesus like the Fonz?" It becomes clear that Herring does indeed spend much time alone pondering such conundrums. (In addition to eating yoghurt.)

Herring is a masterful comedian, by turn playful then mocking, he deals the high-status card beautifully - an expert in reverse-engineering strange and wonderful ideas with consumate confidence. As he permits us to watch his train of though degrade and implode, the experience becomes increasingly, hilariously voyeuristic. Herring is also a pedant. He rants interminably. But in his defence it's A-grade, high-quality ranting, which somehow makes the whole exercise entirely excusable.

If the notion of a sperm the size of a trout with the homing instincts of a salmon appeals, (yes, a surreal and frightening flight of fancy indeed) - then you will love this show. It eventually transpires that Herring hates yoghurt (we think he doth protest too much), but this extended gag is worth the price of the ticket alone.

An exhilirating show. And as an added bonus, by the end he almost had me converted to atheism.
© Leanna Rance 15 August - published on EdinburghGuide.com.
Runs to 28 August at 20.00 every day, excepting August 15.
Company – Richard Herring.