Review: Stewart Francis – Gala Theatre, Durham.

Stewart Francis

Stewart Francis is perhaps best known for the subtle nuances in his gags. Razor sharp punch lines develop from the double meaning of words; jokes bend in places you least expect; while Francis can make a simple pull-back and reveal feel classy. What’s surprising, then, is his choice of support act.

Fellow Canadian Allyson Smith is like something out of a Carry On film. Her ideas are fairly obvious, basic even, as she dances around innuendo for much of the set. Few advanced comedy techniques are on offer here; just acute observations explained down to the finest detail, even projected visually in the case of her routine about pole dancing. But that’s not particularly a bad thing. The audience really buy into her commanding character, and there’s no doubt her lively presence warmed up the crowd for the real star of the show…

Punsmith Francis might be mentioned in the same breath as fellow one-liner merchants Tim Vine, Jimmy Carr and Milton Jones, but he’s so much more than that.

Of course, the typical one-liner adage still applies to Francis’ latest show, Outstanding in his Field. There’s a gag for everyone, as he rattles through hundreds of one-liners, from a clever description of Ed Miliband to pop culture allusions covering Top Gear, Loose Women and the impending death of Peter Andre – all tied together by his trademark deadpan style.

Some you’ll have heard before on previous tours, though they can handle repeated listening; while others will be familiar if, like me, you trawl through Twitter for jokes. There’s no accusation of plagiarism of course, just that a handful of gags are slightly uninspiring; unoriginal even.

But that’s just a side-effect of the genre, and Francis’ best lines more than outweigh his ‘worst.’ His set has the dumb puns of Vine, the wicked wit of Carr and the sheer raw talent of Jones, but his skill-set is much wider-ranging. In terms of one-liner comics, he’s the complete package.

You just need to look at how Francis retains the crowd’s attention with a variety to performative methods; visual and audio aids, mime, even singing his way through one gag. His spoof Q&A at the end of the show is a real treat too; exquisitely timed, perfectly delivered, outstanding.

Proof that for Francis, it’s all in the detail.