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Scotsman review if LOTDS

Richard Herring: Lord of the Dance Settee

Published by Kate Copstick
10 Aug 2014
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Scotsman review (comedy): Richard Herring: Lord of the Dance Settee at Assembly George Square (VENUE 8). Review by Kate Copstick
Surely no comedian in Edinburgh could give more than Richard Herring. Albeit it was only his second preview, as we leave, his apparently lifeless body lies on the floor of the stage of the George Square Theatre. Albeit the sombrero softens the blow, I feel, in part, responsible for the situation as I had happily egged him on to recreate what he had already told us was his all-time “best laugh”. He also warned us that to attempt this, at his age, would be certain death. But we allowed him to try.
I think we might be seeing Richard Herring at the very top of his game. This is definitive Rich – it is bouncy and silly and ranty and nerdy in a bespoke mix all of his own.
He takes ideas for a run in his imagination and won’t let them stop till they lie utterly exhausted and begging for release. He bounces from giant child to grumpy old man in the explosion of a laugh and is as ruthlessly coruscating in his self-criticism as he is when he has a go at men who whinge about International Women’s Day and fried chicken outlets.
Rich gallops us though weird hymns and scary knitted dolls to John Donne, the cure for all sadness and inter-century, quasi-incestuous kissing in a show that you leave feeling you have just found your funniest friend. The finale is disturbing and delightful and I do so hope we haven’t killed him, it would be a tragedy for comedy.