A leader in the absurdist comedy scene, Paul Foot’s shtick isn’t about delivering funny one-liners or even being particularly witty.
Nor does he have the kind of carefully structured routine one comes to expect from internationally acclaimed comics. Instead he is known for his madcap delivery and eccentric on-stage antics and it is clear from the get-go that he has thrown the rule book out the window and singularly rewritten it to suit his oddball personality.
Paul has an anarchic view on life and a style that is borderline crazy and from the moment he takes the mic you know there is a lunatic in the house. He uses his whole body to support his sometimes indecipherable delivery, wriggling and writhing across the stage, his speech often slurred and his arms flailing. At times it seems he is lost for words. But then he has a charm all of his own. Yep, it is weird and initially a tad off-putting but once you settle into the madness and readjust your mind (and your ears) he is warm and endearing and communicates well with the audience.
There are his astute observations about soft shell crab, restaurant menus and the pretensions that come with the ‘fine dining’ experience. As he warms to his audience, and vice versa, his style of comedy becomes more accessible and the jokes funnier.
He literally embraces his audience, clambering onto those sitting in the front row to fake multiple orgasms – his body shuddering in waves. This is a prelude to the core of his show 'Image Conscious' which is centred on a suburban orgy that Paul is organising. And it’s not easy. There are a multitude of things to think about; the catering, the sex toys, and most importantly who to invite – definitely not your aunty who is on Facebook – God forbid. But what if she does turn up? Paul has his own solution for that and it’s hilarious.
Paul addresses these burning questions in turn, delivering a socially dysfunctional solution to all of them and in doing so, throws the spotlight back on the audience. By the cheers and laughter it seems more than a few in the audience have been there themselves.
But there is more to come. He drills deeper, much deeper and the scenario becomes more absurd by the minute. And then he switches to another topic – the triumphs of the British Empire and its success in the Falkland’s war and its parallels to snooker champions. As obtuse as it is, there is a connection and he pursues this avenue until it is utterly exhausted before returning to the orgy at hand – a key part to this carousel of comedy.
It’s an eccentric and sometimes baffling performance from a surreal comedian who has been carving out his own peculiar niche for years. Paul Foot is unlike any other stand-up I’ve seen and 'Image Conscious' is about as anarchic and whacky as you’ll get. It’s off-beat, left of centre and wonderfully bonkers. Go see it!
★★★★☆ ½
