Thanks to Dom Kureen for this review of stand-up comedienne Lucy Porter’s gig on Friday at Quay Arts. Ed
“Thanks, you’ve been an… interesting audience!”
Her words dripped with an under current of disillusionment, as Lucy Porter departed the Quay Arts stage on Friday night.
Perched only a few metres from where her performance had taken place, the comedian’s intoxicated antagonists lingered defiantly, having spent the entire evening interrupting the set at pivotal moments and yelling from the bar, this was indeed the night of the intrusive idiot.
Got off to a great start
It had all started so brightly, as Porter regaled the room with a whimsical jaunt through her life in comedy and explained why she came to feel an affinity for the north of England, despite having been born in Croydon, to a Northern Irish father and a mother from the Midlands.
Her search for an identity led to various phases in her youth, including a brief stint as a Goth (which ended abruptly when others of similar persuasion rejected her for being too chirpy), a period idolising Morrissey and an ongoing fascination with miserable men, something she holds responsible for her husband: writer and actor Justin Edwards.
Either side of a short interval came some humorous anecdotes, the highlights of which revolved around a faux pas that resulted in an on-air apology to the Mayor of Derby and her take on the Shoreditch hipster scene, which she deliciously defined as having a very high ‘wan*er per capita’ ratio.
Cue the intoxicated antagonists
It was around 20 minutes into the set that a lady in the audience took umbrage to one of Porter’s tamest gags and decided to conduct her own examination into the joke, throwing in a ridiculous race card for good measure.
Even after a near-five minute exchange with the diminutive humorist, she wasn’t satisfied and audibly held noisy, derisive conversation until the end of the show.
Her friend also decided to shout a drinks offer towards the main stage just moments later. This pure, unflinching contempt showed no signs of ceasing and those responsible should have been thrown out long before the end.
She’ll have far better nights than this
It seems remiss to focus such a large proportion of a review for a talented comedian on a few disrespectful twits in attendance, alas regrettably their overbearing presence affected everyone in attendance.
Despite that, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that the routine itself was nicely paced, allowing for a glimpse into the evolution of an engaging, likeable performer whose tour promises to be a success – she will have far better nights than this.
: Overall score
Image: © Lucy Porter
