Paul Foot: Image Conscious (rating 4/5)
There are many comedians trying to do something different. Often the attempts at unique delivery come at the expense of the material, disguising weak jokes or half-formed routines. Paul Foot is an exception, and his show is one of the most memorable hours of stand-up on offer.
It doesn’t start great. A routine about the royal family feels like it’s treading very familiar territory and not offering anything new. When he moves on to talk about his dislike of Greg Wallace and Master Chef it starts to get better. The exaggerated passion of his delivery lifts the material above the standard anti-TV routines of many comedians, but it’s only when he moves on to the subject of suburban orgies that the show really comes to life.
It’s the way Foot builds his stories, adding layer upon layer until there is nowhere else he can take it, that places him in the small band of comedians who can create fantasy worlds that push the boundaries of comedy.
He ends with a routine about the metric system that is good, though it feels like it is there just to make up the last few minutes of the show, but overall this is an excellent set by a one-off performer.
Underbelly Cowgate, until 26 August
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