Review: Simon Munnery [Hats Off To The 101ers…] – Newcastle Stand.

Simon Munnery

Having spoken to Simon Munnery earlier in the month about his latest show, Hats Off To The 101ers, and Other Material, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from one of the champions of alternative comedy.

“It’s a mixed bag of things, really,” Munnery admits. “It includes a six minute, one-man punk rock musical about the old R101 airship disaster in 1930. I’ll also do three monologues, a sketch about the two thieves left on crosses after Jesus was taken down, some stand-up, a few poems and a song.”

A mixed bag indeed. As the lights went down inside the Newcastle Stand’s basement, Munnery began to wade his way through the crowd wearing a top hat spewing a constant stream of bubbles, before jumping straight into his punk rock musical about the R101 airship.

Despite the clear structure behind the show, the whole opening segment felt joyously spontaneous – and awkward – as Munnery bumbled about the stage trying to play, sing and hold up visual aids at the same time; eventually admitting defeat and asking an audience member to hold the pictures up for him.

Then came the monologues, a few poems, a lecture on ‘women studies’, a cardboard animation sketch and a song; all peppered with bits of stand-up material in between. Quite an alternative set of material on the surface, but it’s presented in such a methodical way that it almost makes feels like you’re watching a televised variety show. (Munnery even goes as far to announce an ‘ad break’ as he rattles off a few parody adverts for Gillette and M&s before getting back to the main feature.)

Munnery’s last show saw a return to straight up stand-up and personally that’s how I enjoy him most. The more alternative segments, like his monologue on Sherlock Holmes or his poem ‘If London Could Speak’, naturally won’t be everyone’s cup of tea; so it’s actually worth applauding Munnery’s ability to draw and maintain the attention of a reviewer who prefers the more traditional method of stand-up.

Though Hats Off To The 101ers, and Other Material perhaps lacks the bite of previous shows, Munnery proves he is still no slouch in delivering wonderful anecdotes and heartfelt observations: stories of swearing as a child, his obvious distaste for the Daily Mail and a particular great segment dissecting the lyrics of ‘Born in the USA’.

Hats off to you, Simon Munnery.