I'm going to see it tonight, John, and I've seen it before, in Edinburgh. I'll let you know if anything's changed that I can spot.

Why should it have to be rude?

To stop people noticing, and commenting humorously, on John's second name?
I'm off to see the show tonight as well, are you still going to be sitting in the seats you mentioned before Steve? *adjusts jumper to hide copy of "Practical Sniping" in back pocket*

There are a few extra bits since Edinburgh and the set up is a bit more theatrical.
The Nottingham gig was basically just stand up with no slides and with quite a lot of things that subsequently changed, got added to or got dropped.
So I think it would be quite a different experience to Nottingham (a massively different experience to the first previews in Brighton and other places) and still enough different to keep an Edinburgh patron interested.
Hope you enjoy it tonight those of you on your way. I have to say that the audiences are still disappointingly small - now more like 50 than 30 (and it's selling OK for the weekend). But I'd love to be filling or even half filling the venue so please do come along with all your friends if you possibly can!

Richard, my friend would like to ask why it's starting so late. 9.30pm it says on the info. There's a chance he might be a bit pissed by the time he gets there. Oh, and can you make sure you're wrapped up for 11pm, please, as I've got to get my train home?

Cheerio

Good point, I've got to be at Victoria for 11.24pm. What's the usual running time of the show?

It starts at 9.30 cos I'm following the Vagina Monologues.
Barring over runnings from previous shows (which is unlikely) the show is usually over by 10.50 at the latest.

I would encourage you not to get *too* pissed beforehand! There's a small amount of concentration required. But it's up to you.
See you later

>It starts at 9.30 cos I'm following the Vagina Monologues.

<INSERT YOUR OWN JOKE HERE>

>Barring over runnings from previous shows (which is unlikely) the show is usually over by 10.50 at the latest.

So we get out in time for last orders at the Arts Theatre bar! Hooray!

>I would encourage you not to get *too* pissed beforehand! There's a small amount of concentration required. But it's up to you.

Oh yes, better remind my mate to turn his mobile off.

>See you later

Blimey, it *is* a small theatre!

Not knowing too much about this show, could someone tell me a little about it as I have enjoyed other Lee and Herring things I have seen before and would be interested to go and see this. I am sure I could get some mates to come as well to fill up some of the spare seats.
It is only in London, or is it a tour around the country?
What exactly is it?
and lots of other questions...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/hottx/top_review.html?in_review_id=464849&in_review_text_id=417824

Or try:
http://www.observer.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,581890,00.html

>http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/hottx/top_review.html?in_review_id=464849&in_review_text_id=417824

>To stop people noticing, and commenting humorously, on John's second name?

Bastard. :-D

Obviously it doesn't have to be rude to be funny, I kind of accidentally linked the two. But IMHO, Herring is at his funniest when he's being rude.

> I have to say that the audiences are still disappointingly small - now more like 50 than 30 (and it's selling OK for the weekend). But I'd love to be filling or even half filling the venue so please do come along with all your friends if you possibly can!

It's the cost, Richard, it's the cost.

>It starts at 9.30 cos I'm following the Vagina Monologues.
>Barring over runnings from previous shows (which is unlikely) the show is usually over by 10.50 at the latest.
>
>I would encourage you not to get *too* pissed beforehand! There's a small amount of concentration required. But it's up to you.
>See you later

Ha! Good man! I won't be losing too much VDT, then. See you on Saturday!

Enjoyed the show last night, as did bird -- would have liked to have stuck around afterwards but had to leg it to catch the last train to East Grinstead... Made slight fool of myself attempting to identify the offline version of mrdiscopop in the audience... Didn't catch Mr Berry -- some other time maybe.

Herring, you need to revise your German vocab. The correct spellings are 'Fernsehapparat' and 'Regenschirm'. Contrary to what the poster on the other thread said, I don't think the 'rude' material is at all becoming. Lose the knob gags and shock tactics and stick to the analytical stuff -- it's a bit Punt-and-Dennis but much much funnier! There, that's my tuppen'orth.

We went and really enjoyed it. My girlfriend was impressed by Mr Herring's memory and she especially liked the alternative begats. The shell suit looks like it needs an iron. Is he wearing the same one for all 16 shows? I bet it stinks like a school changing room.

It's a shame more people aren't going, but I suspect the venue (and therefore the price, despite the generous reduction) are the problem. Last year I saw Neil Mullarkey's one-man show above a pub in South London for a fiver. The place was full.

But I enjoyed it. Well done, that man.

Saw it, laughed like an arse. Girlfriend also in fits during show. Got terribly terribly drunk shortly after at someone else's Halloween party (in the theatre bar). Stayed at mate's house and was very sick. Never again.

I'm supposed to be giving a presentation in Birmingham in a few hours. Oh dear...

I love the Arts theatre Bar. Whenever I'm in London and the pubs insist on closing at the early hour of 11.00pm you just tip up there and when they ask are you a member just say you're from the chorus of a West End show.

Because I'm not a waif I am either from Blood Brothers or Mama Mia - couldn't get away with Les Mis as its obvious I've eaten.

>Saw it, laughed like an arse. Girlfriend also in fits during show.

So you have a girlfriend, eh? I'm sure your 'missus' would find this interesting. £500, please.

>So you have a girlfriend, eh? I'm sure your 'missus' would find this interesting. £500, please.

Same person, it is. Honestly! If you're going to blackmail me, at least get me for those homosexuality "experiments" whilst at uni. Tch! D'oh!

I enjoyed it, and it gave me a warm feeling inside to see Sotcaa in the display of the made up names.
As an aside my girlfriend was convinced that Richard's belly was false.

Oh, and I met mrdiscopop too. Nice fella. V. pretty girlfriend. Rich Herring's belly did not look as big offstage, so ymmto's better half may well be right.

I'm afraid that the belly is real
Must do more exercise
But the shell suit makes it look odd, mainly cos it acts as some kind of reverse corset!

If it's any consolation, it is costing me about 1000 times what it would cost you.
If any of you want to come and *genuinely* can't afford it then e mail me at [email protected] and tell me when you'd like to come and I'll put you on the door. This may have to be limited if too many of you want to do it. Or I can put one ticket on the door if you buy another if you can afford £6 each.
The rude stuff seems to work with a large audience and not so well with a small one. People's embarrassment seems to dissipate when they are in a large crowd.
I'm not surprised the German vocab was spelt wrong. Nor do I care. That makes it better!

>As an aside my girlfriend was convinced that Richard's belly was false.

Girlfriend? Hmm. Are you married, ymmto?

>Oh, and I met mrdiscopop too. Nice fella. V. pretty girlfriend.

What about you, mrdiscopop? Is there a mrsdiscopop?

>Is there a mrsdiscopop?

I can confirm the existence of mrdiscopop.

>The rude stuff seems to work with a large audience and not so well with a small one.

You might want to consider leaving it out then!

No, keep it in :-)
Or have I got a really childish sense of humour? I'm afraid that in L&H stand up, I always laughed the most when Richard said "cunt".
Perhaps it is just me. Leave it out then...

Actually, to Richard's credit, I don't think there was much swearing in the show -- I can't recall there being any at all really, certainly not put in there for laughs. Unless you count words like 'cock' and 'spunk' as swearing. Which I dare say many people may be inclined to do.

>No, keep it in :-)
>Or have I got a really childish sense of humour? I'm afraid that in L&H stand up, I always laughed the most when Richard said "cunt".
>Perhaps it is just me. Leave it out then...

Your flyer's just appearesd on Popbitch, so maybe that will help!

Are you that offended by swearing? It's never meant in a nasty way, I always just found it funny.

And yes, I found the intellectual stuff funny too, because this is making me sound like someone who giggles when someone says 'bum'.

christ on a bike!
the fat one from not richard and judy - bloody marvellous!
(popsnitch, Fri 2 Nov 14:34, Reply)
You mean...
[flyer jpg]
(patrickbateman, Fri 2 Nov 14:34, Reply)
...noSubject
funnier still he still has a career even tho he's with avalon
(popsnitch, Fri 2 Nov 14:33, Reply)
That's twice you've made me laugh out loud today!

Hat trick by end of day please.
(fettdog, Fri 2 Nov 14:19, Reply)
yeah!
saw him the other night. its worth watching for the shell suit
(popsnitch, Fri 2 Nov 14:34, Reply)
Christ on a Bike!
Have to admit that I went to see him too. I almost pissed myself with laughter - better than most so called comedy's in the west end.
(jalwal, Fri 2 Nov 14:35, Reply)
Christ on a Bike!
Have to admit that I went to see him too. I almost pissed myself with laughter. Well worth 12 quid.
(jalwal, Fri 2 Nov 14:34, Reply)

Just mind the pissy seats.

I'm not offended by swearing at all -- in fact I swear a lot myself. A fuck of a lot. Which is probably why I don't find it particularly shitting funny as a form of entertainment. (see what I did there?)

Pretend swearing can be amusing because it shows inventive use of language, and because it's not something that any punter could have spent all day doing themselves with equal flair and confidence. There was a funny scene in one of the Armando shows recently in which a string of imaginary expletives were uttered, like 'prannock'. There's a Fry & Laurie sketch, too, which gleefully lists a multitude of offensive-sounding but non-existent rude words.

>Are you that offended by swearing? It's never meant in a nasty way, I always just found it funny.
>
>And yes, I found the intellectual stuff funny too, because this is making me sound like someone who giggles when someone says 'bum'.

http://www.geocities.com/mmemym/bits2/fal0105.htm

>I'm not offended by swearing at all -- in fact I swear a lot myself. A fuck of a lot. Which is probably why I don't find it particularly shitting funny as a form of entertainment. (see what I did there?)

I do. I get where you're coming from now. :-) Nice link.

>
>>Oh, and I met mrdiscopop too. Nice fella. V. pretty girlfriend.
>
>What about you, mrdiscopop? Is there a mrsdiscopop?


No wife, officer. only a girlfriend. And she's lovely, too. Even Steve Berry and Richard Herring say so (unless that whistling noise was actually a sharp intake of breath).

Sorry you didn't stick around, Martin, but it was nice to shout at you down a row of seats.

Oh, and everyone I was with thought the show was ace of spades. Top night. Cheers, Mr Herring and your obsesion with Jesus.

Sounds like I'll have to get round to going again. :-)

I don't mind the reaction of a small audience to the rude stuff, in fact in some ways I prefer it. I don't think many people would be offended by it and I think it is quite important to the show.
I suppose if there's a serious side to it, it is that sex is often a part of religious cults and that the person at the centre of some of those cults can sometimes abuse this position.
I am also trying to demonstrate some of the madeness and arrogance in the "character" of Richard Herring who thinks he might be Jesus - hence the Mother Theresa stuff and calling my own mother a whore.
I like the genuine theological conundrum at the centre of the question "How long was Jesus' cock?" Because it must have been a certain length and it must have been something that God had to decide. Also I think if Jesus didn't have a sexual side then what would he really know about being human.
For all these reasons I will continue to keep doing the rude stuff even if no-one laughs, though I think there is perhaps one too many in the show and I'm going to take one out (did take out quite a few in Edinburgh for time reasons)
I also think it's all quite funny

You don't have to defend yourself, Herring -- it's your show! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. And I thought the show had the unusual and refreshing characteristic of containing no 'moderately amusing' moments. I spent the show alternating haphazardly between stoney-faced indifference and doubled-up, helpless, pant-wetting mirth (I was genuinely concerned that my bladder was not going to withstand the 'Booz of Rachab' routine). And the 'it is indeed right' routine was brilliant, too.

Thanks for a fun evening!

>a string of imaginary expletives were uttered, like 'prannock'.

There's nothing imaginary about "prannock".

Richard, any chance of the show coming to Wales?

Stop it! I'm going this evening and you're giving the plot away.

>You don't have to defend yourself, Herring -- it's your show! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. And I thought the show had the unusual and refreshing characteristic of containing no 'moderately amusing' moments. I spent the show alternating haphazardly between stoney-faced indifference and doubled-up, helpless, pant-wetting mirth (I was genuinely concerned that my bladder was not going to withstand the 'Booz of Rachab' routine). And the 'it is indeed right' routine was brilliant, too.
>
>Thanks for a fun evening!

>Stop it! I'm going this evening and you're giving the plot away.
>
It's the name of his sledge!

There seemed to be a good size crowd in on Friday night with only a few drunken twats trying to ruin it. I think Richard has been lying about the small audiences to try and get our sympathy.
Bloody good show. My 'partner' enjoyed it as well, even though she suffers from late onset Catholiscism.

Forgot to mention something almost as amusing as the show itself.
We saw Anita Dobson in the bar as the crowd from the Vagina Monologues were leaving. Some MotP went up to her and asked a question that I didn't hear, but her reply was 'Yes, Brian May, that's right.'
I can only guess that they were asking her if she really was the girlfriend of that famous guitarist blokey. She seemed to handle it quite well and laughed it off, but you could see her wanting to scream 'He only went out with me in the first place cos I'm famous you know!!'.
Brian must have been giving a concert somewhere else and needed the hair for the night cos she had straight reddish hair.

Friday was my biggest audience - 120. And probably the best show.
Saturday was down to more like 60 or 70 again (which is still OK)
MOnday thru Thursday has been fluctuating between 25 and 50.
The venue has 350 seats
It would be nice to even half fill it by the end, but things are slowly improving and I'm hopeful that I might at least fill downstairs next weekend.

Her and May are married now!

>Her and May are married now!

I bet they get divorced on Christmas day just to boost ratings.

Well, Richard Herring, I now know who ate all the pies! That you for my evening's entertainment on Saturday, I managed to smile, smirk, chuckle and even guffaw a few times. Is it always that slow for the first half-hour or were we difficult to warm up?

I did like the observation about how many communion hosts one would have to consume to eat a whole Jesus - I have wondered that myself. I've also wondered which bit you're getting, is it leg this week or a nice bit of tongue? How's Jesus divided up this week? Do the rich parishes get a prime cut such as sirloin of Jesus, the middle-class parishes some chopped Jesus Spam and the poorest parishes some wafer-thin, mechanically recovered Jesus, a Jesus sludge? The communion wafers for the rich parishes are probably hand-rolled on the inner thighs of Venezuelan virgins (of both sexes), the middle-class ones are made by Provencal artisans and the ones for the poor parishes are churned out of a factory in Tipton by retired lepers.

We sad thirty-somethings laugh like drains at playground references and longs lists of silly acronyms, but it's all in the good old music hall tradition. Ten dozen double damask dinner napkins, anyone? Next time please recreate Little Titch's Big Boot Dance. You know you want to.

Oh, a group of twenty-somethings behind us were under the impression they were going to see some bloke called Lee Herring, who he?

and the ones for the poor parishes are churned out of a factory in Tipton by retired lepers.

Are you having a go at Tipton? I grew up there and I can tell you, there's plenty to have a go at.

Well we're going tonight, so that's at least two of us in the audience!

Given that we've been given seats in row G, & I booked the tickets some time ago, that must either mean there are more people going this week or Richard has made sure people have to sit far enough back so they can't read the OHP slides...

Could someone please give dates, location, phone number to book tickets etc..
Thanks

The Arts Theatre, Great Newport St
B/O 020 7836 3334
(tube Leicester Sq)
It's on at 9.30pm every day until (and including) Sat 10th November
So not long to go Bill. Hope you can make it!

Saw the show for a second time (including Edinburgh, I'm not a groupie) on Monday and thoroughly enjoyed it again, although wished there had been more people in, to swell the laughter. This really is a fine show, in terms of writing, conception and performance - although taking the piss out of a man called Salmon when you yourself are called Herring, I mean, come on! One woman walked out halfway through. Incredible! Was she offended by the religious material or the spunking cock? Can't recall exactly when she left.

I take my hat off to you, Rich (or Avalon), for doing such an optimistically long London run. For a useful comparison, myself, Maconie and Quantick are doing a London transfer of our 'Lloyd Cole' show from December 9 at the ICA for . . . one night only.

We are amateurs.

Oh, but do come. They haven't even got an upstairs we can close!

>I take my hat off to you, Rich (or Avalon), for doing such an optimistically long London run. For a useful comparison, myself, Maconie and Quantick are doing a London transfer of our 'Lloyd Cole' show from December 9 at the ICA for . . . one night only.

Edinburgh? London? Humbug! Nottingham has a fine Playhouse, where I'm sure you'd both be welcomed warmly. Mel and Sue even played there once!

[and yes, I know you previewed in Nottingham Richard, but I was on holiday at the time. Bah. Just out of interest, what sort of reception did you get? Was it one that made you think "Yes! I'll bring lots more shows to this fine city"?

Also, when you and Stew played the Nottingham Theatre Royal in about 1996, I missed the first half hourish of the show because I was sitting in the bar, waiting for the much larger Concert Hall next door to open up, because I thought you were there. Could you possibly give me a rundown of the whole first half hour, including those jokes you kept referring back to later in the act that I obviously didn't understand?]

>I take my hat off to you, Rich (or Avalon), for doing such an optimistically long London run. For a useful comparison, myself, Maconie and Quantick are doing a London transfer of our 'Lloyd Cole' show from December 9 at the ICA for . . . one night only.

Edinburgh? London? Humbug! Nottingham has a fine Playhouse, where I'm sure you'd both be welcomed warmly. Mel and Sue even played there once!

[and yes, I know you previewed in Nottingham Richard, but I was on holiday at the time. Bah. Just out of interest, what sort of reception did you get? Was it one that made you think "Yes! I'll bring lots more shows to this fine city"?

Also, when you and Stew played the Nottingham Theatre Royal in about 1996, I missed the first half hourish of the show because I was sitting in the bar, waiting for the much larger Concert Hall next door to open up, because I thought you were there. Could you possibly give me a rundown of the whole first half hour, including those jokes you kept referring back to later in the act that I obviously didn't understand?]

Yes it's tough doing it to a small crowd. Really have to work my socks (under my sandals) off.
Last night the audience suddenly shot up to about 100 which is 3 times what we got the previous Tuesday, so hopefully the word of mouth affect is beginning to work. It was a lot more fun for everyone. Funnily enough I think if I'd done about 8 weeks then it might have been one of those shows that really took off around week 4 or 5. But with only 4 more performances, my ambition has to be to fill downstairs at the weekend.
Thanks for coming again AC. I just don't know how I didn't spot that Salmon thing earlier... there's me saying no-one could have the name of a fish and until Bruce Dessau came along I had just not twigged that my own name was a fish too.
I feel so stupid.

>I take my hat off to you, Rich (or Avalon), for doing such an optimistically long London run. For a useful comparison, myself, Maconie and Quantick are doing a London transfer of our 'Lloyd Cole' show from December 9 at the ICA for . . . one night only.

Edinburgh? London? Humbug! Nottingham has a fine Playhouse, where I'm sure you'd both be welcomed warmly. Mel and Sue even played there once!

[and yes, I know you previewed in Nottingham Richard, but I was on holiday at the time. Bah. Just out of interest, what sort of reception did you get? Was it one that made you think "Yes! I'll bring lots more shows to this fine city"?

Also, when you and Stew played the Nottingham Theatre Royal in about 1996, I missed the first half hourish of the show because I was sitting in the bar, waiting for the much larger Concert Hall next door to open up, because I thought you were there. Could you possibly give me a rundown of the whole first half hour, including those jokes you kept referring back to later in the act that I obviously didn't understand?]

>I just don't know how I didn't spot that Salmon thing earlier... there's me saying no-one could have the name of a fish and until Bruce Dessau came along I had just not twigged that my own name was a fish too.

Perhaps you could write a gag centring around this irony into the show?

>Also, when you and Stew played the Nottingham Theatre Royal in about 1996, I missed the first half hourish of the show because I was sitting in the bar, waiting for the much larger Concert Hall next door to open up, because I thought you were there. Could you possibly give me a rundown of the whole first half hour, including those jokes you kept referring back to later in the act that I obviously didn't understand?

They both walked in with Robin Hood hats. Rich seemed to think the people of Nottingham would be impressed by this, wheras Stew thought we would be offended.

We were impressed.

>They both walked in with Robin Hood hats. Rich seemed to think the people of Nottingham would be impressed by this, wheras Stew thought we would be offended.
>
>We were impressed.

Kewl. I got the impression that there had been some talk of the "we've been to the Tales of Robin Hood" nature, since there were several back references to the scary Sherriff's face projected onto dummy so it seems like dummy is talking thing.

I can't remember much of it, but there was quite a bit of material about The Tales of Robin Hood. Mainly about poo, I think.

Very enjoyable seeing it for a second time last night - definitely much slicker than the preview (which was still extremely good); it packed in a lot more material with a nice pace throughout. I liked all the additional forum references (false bellies & Evening Standard reviews may be mentioned but you'll have to see the show to get the details).

And, despite it being pretty busy, we arrived early enough to get upgraded to the front row, which meant we were close enough to be spat upon by Richard (I'm sure there must be a 'holy water' joke in there somewhere...)!

>And, despite it being pretty busy, we arrived early enough to get upgraded to the front row, which meant we were close enough to be spat upon by Richard (I'm sure there must be a 'holy water' joke in there somewhere...)!

Urgh! There was quite a bit of Herring fluid flying about. I'll never be able to look at soft roe in the same way again.

>Well, Richard Herring, I now know who ate all the pies! That you for my evening's entertainment on Saturday,


Were you one of the four in the front row?
We spent a moderate amount of time playing 'spot the SOTCAA reader'.

Hmm, what's the stereotyped SOTCAA reader like then?

No particular stereotype (at least not an appearance based one) - just looking out for people who we knew already, (plus a little bit of 'hey, d'you think they do..?').

>>Well, Richard Herring, I now know who ate all the pies! That you for my evening's entertainment on Saturday,
>
>
>Were you one of the four in the front row?
>We spent a moderate amount of time playing 'spot the SOTCAA reader'.
>

Row C, ackshually. I thought the blokes with the silly sideburns were probably SOTCAA forumites.