Review: Simon Evans, Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

Friday 15th April 2011, 12:30AM BST.

Review: Simon Evans

The Slade Rooms

Wolverhampton

I saw Simon Evans on TV a few months ago, and then by chance read he was coming to Wolverhampton.

My last live funny show had been a capacity Civic Hall for Richard Bishop, so the 150 or so people in the Slade Rooms couldn’t have been more different.

The comics, though, weren’t – they were equally as funny.

Evans trades on his posh voice, his lack of profanities, and his self-deprecating self awareness. Add to that a curved ball view of the world and an originality and quick wit that is so refreshing, and it proved a great way to pass an evening.

‘Old no eyes’ and an accent that is ‘educated’ were routines he’d shared on telly, but both drew good laughs.

Actually, the whole show drew laughs: good, out loud belly ones, although his biggest round of applause was for an uncanny impersonation of Leonard Rossiter’s Rigsby!

This is Evans’ first national tour, after years of playing the comedy circuit and last year supporting Lee Mack on his UK trek. Various commentators and reviewers have asked why this very, very funny guy isn’t yet a household name. I’ve no idea – the few people I asked hadn’t even heard of him.

But I’m sure that’s something that will change in the very near future.

To those who do know him, he’s a legend. The couple beside us had seen him ages ago at the Edinburgh Fringe yet years later weren’t disappointed with last night’s show.

Neither was I.

Sam Taylor

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