Stewart Lee, 41st Best Stand Up Ever – DVD
July 26, 2008 – 8:57 am | by PeekayStewart Lee has an interesting position in the world of stand-up. After being part of a group of young upstarts, alongside his comedy partner Richard Herring, with tour and TV success, he is now much more of a well-respected elder statesman of comedy.
This DVD shows Lee at his best. After being voted 41st in a Channel Four list of the Best Stand-ups ever, Lee was bemused that he was still playing dives around the country and was barely known outside of dedicated comedy fans.
Lee’s mum also helped to pour salt into the wounds by repeatedly telling Stewart that he wasn’t as good as old-school comedian Tom O’Connor who she once saw on a Cruise ship.
Lee has such a mastery of the craft of stand-up comedy that he is very confident in trying things out, pushing his audience to the limits – particularly in his repetition of material. But he has the skills not only to bring the audience back on track, but also to have the repetition have a point – in this case about the way his mum goes on and on about O’Connor.
This DVD, that includes an interview with Lee by fellow comedian Johnny Vegas, is a great example of stand-up comedy – and by all rights should see Lee climb up from 41st place.
