Stewart Lee is the anti-matter of stand up comedy. On the few occasions when he comes close to delivering a conventional observational punchline the illusion will be swiftly shattered by the deconstruction of the joke itself. And some derision for the audience that he might have laughed at it anyway.
Can any other comedian get away with what Lee does? He patronises, abuses and laughs at his audience, can't tell proper jokes, repeats himself, allows silences to stretch out and is self referential to the point of parody. He really only manages to do two of the things you'd expect from a proper comedian.
Firstly, he makes you think. Both about the subjects he's addressing, such as Islamophobia, and the nature of comedy itself.
Secondly, he makes you laugh. Endlessly. This show is laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish and draws in the audience in a way that makes you feel integral to the performance, in on the non-joke, and has you looking for sub text all over the place.
Genius.
Stewart Lee : A Room With a Stew is on in the Assembly Rooms at 14.15 until the 30th.
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