| 14 August 2011
Simon Munnery is not for everyone. That fact should be obvious the moment he enters The Stand I, cardboard top hat spewing bubbles from the crown and a mobile speaker and microphone strapped to a trolley. Munnery has a well-deserved reputation for being experimental, “almost impenetrably weird,” as Adam Buxton of Adam & Joe fame called him, and yet most of what he puts on stage here would actually appeal to a surprisingly broad audience. Having expected a much deeper exploration of the history of the R101 airship, I was somewhat disappointed that this delightfully niche topic was actually covered mostly by way of an atonal punk song at the beginning of the set. Instead, subjects ranged from the conversation between the two thieves crucified with Jesus (very funny) to a conference paper on women delivered by a pervert (slipping dangerously close to becoming actually sexist).
Admitting himself that this show is a work in progress, it’s obvious that there is considerable tightening up to be done by Munnery before Hats Off for the 101ers is complete. It’s telling that the best moment comes in the form of a recitation of his poem ‘London’, a gorgeous piece of wordsmithery but one I’m sure I’ve heard from Munnery before, possibly even in his Alan Parker: Urban Warrior days.
As ever, Munnery provides an uncomfortably funny hour of stand-up. However, perhaps this year it’s not entirely for the right reasons.
Simon Munnery: Hats Off for the 101ers, and Other Material, The Stand I, 5-29 August, 3.40pm
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