January 23, 2008
Jimmy Carr wears an understated dark suit, stands centre stage in this packed theatre and holds the crowd with his sharp, wry humour for two one hour sets, interspersed with an interval. In the Oxford show of his ‘Repeat Offender’ tour, questions from the floor range from ‘Who do you try new material on?’ to ‘Who is the Stig?’. Carr’s trademark raised eyebrow shows he had higher expectations from the great minds of this University town. To cite some of the earthier material such as the finer points of sexual etiquette is to rob them of their humour as the classy delivery of Carr makes unlikely comic material laugh out loud funny. Carr does indeed face facts and it is hard to argue with some of the profanities that are directed at justified targets such as suicide bombers. Modern issues such as global warming are tackled. Carr tells observational gags as he notes always in the reportage of flooded areas there is a man in a canoe ‘probably off to Boots’.
Undoubtedly some of the material is cut close to the bone but ironically you could probably take your Grandmother to this because it’s the smooth and stylish way Carr tells ‘em that makes the audience want to hear more. The simplicity of the material belies how well written it is. ‘Three percent of Britons do not leave a tip. They’re called the weirdos who will not leave the tip.’ Carr does not need a whipping boy to make the audience laugh, a book described as a ‘page-turner’ elicits his comment that he is fully aware of how a book works. This intelligent man of style takes a moment to recline on a leather settee and share some food for thought as lounge music is played. Examples of his musing include, ‘What size is the Queen’s bed?’, ‘What happens if you spill carpet cleaner?’ and ‘Isn’t Venison deer?’ Just when the audience’s goodwill is built up, Carr intentionally seeks to dissipate this by telling a joke at the finale that is so gross but yet so strangely funny. As he predicts, it’s the only joke any of the audience will remember when pals ask to hear a gag from the show. The fact that Carr does not baulk from representing some of our generation’s most unpalatable issues and succeeds in turning them into humour makes this a night of classic contemporary comedy.
Undoubtedly some of the material is cut close to the bone but ironically you could probably take your Grandmother to this because it’s the smooth and stylish way Carr tells ‘em that makes the audience want to hear more. The simplicity of the material belies how well written it is. ‘Three percent of Britons do not leave a tip. They’re called the weirdos who will not leave the tip.’ Carr does not need a whipping boy to make the audience laugh, a book described as a ‘page-turner’ elicits his comment that he is fully aware of how a book works. This intelligent man of style takes a moment to recline on a leather settee and share some food for thought as lounge music is played. Examples of his musing include, ‘What size is the Queen’s bed?’, ‘What happens if you spill carpet cleaner?’ and ‘Isn’t Venison deer?’ Just when the audience’s goodwill is built up, Carr intentionally seeks to dissipate this by telling a joke at the finale that is so gross but yet so strangely funny. As he predicts, it’s the only joke any of the audience will remember when pals ask to hear a gag from the show. The fact that Carr does not baulk from representing some of our generation’s most unpalatable issues and succeeds in turning them into humour makes this a night of classic contemporary comedy.