Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour

Award-winning comedy star with a selection of his very best jokes along with brand new material
New Theatre, Oxford, Sun 26 March 2017

March 28, 2017
8 out of 10 for a great night of comedy hits and laughter

Nurses, teachers, students, wheelchair users, mothers and a list too long to reproduce are fair gain in the eyes of Jimmy Carr. No minority is spared but who cares, we all laugh anyway! "I have comedy Tourette's!" explained Carr early in his show, The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour.

There is something of the expected shock and awe from this show wrapped up in a reprise of some familiar material from the last decade and although some punchlines could be foreseen, he didn't disappoint a near full New Theatre. Carr is the master of rattling off a stream of challenging gags in his trademark matter-of-fact style, with extra relish added for the quick-fire put-down when hecklers attempted to interject and he responded to each in witty and scathing fashion.

Seeking throw away suggestions from the audience, Carr latched onto a comment from the Circle: "What's your name, sir?" said the solicitous Carr; 'Kate' came the reply; much mirth ensued, and a 'post-modern' trans-gender strand of humour began to be examined and played with, like a cat with a live mouse. Kate, who is between jobs or 'unemployed' as Jimmy would have it, was to be in the thrall of the man with the mic. Another audience member was subsequently 'selected' to be the victim of Carr's fondness for withering jokes about mothers for the rest of the evening.

Unsubtle and near the knuckle (and beyond) at times? Yes, but his contradictory condescending charm of the rapid fire delivery, and his in-breathing Eeyore laugh, somehow makes it all work. Audience participation formed a major part of the performance and there was almost the gauntlet of an 'as low as you can go' atmosphere which left you wondering what could possibly come next. Our host for the evening did manage to pre-empt any potential digs about his well-publicised tax affairs with a series of self-deprecating jokes.

Carr was on top form, with a responsive and willing audience. He is polished, fearless in accepting no boundaries and demonstrated why he is one of the finest comedians of his generation and this show is a guaranteed great night out.

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