|
John Shuttleworth – Fawn Again The Sheffield comic and 'versatile singer/songwriter/organist' John Shuttleworth's new show is based around the fact that he's feeling old. As he comes to terms with the fact that he is less sprightly than usual, and that his wife Mary is retiring from her job as a dinner lady soon, John eschews the colours of youth in favour of a more sedate beige. He is, as the title of his show suggests, 'Fawn again'. Shuttleworth's humour lies in his characterization and observation of the minutiae of everyday life. He talks and sings his way through his concerns about the exorbitant price of coffee ('campaccino' at 1 pound 89), the demise of the cardboard in the bounty bar, and various dinnertime dilemmas. In true Shuttleworth style he devotes an entire song to sweets ('Biscuits and Confectionary') and another to shepherd's pie ('I Can't Go Back To Savoury Now'), all accompanied on his Yamaha keyboard. Through his seemingly disjointed ramblings you get to know his wife, Mary, his children Karen and Darren, his manager Ken and even Mary's colleague Joan (who's a qualified physiotherapist, but never took it up because of her weak wrists). Included in the show are a preview of his film 'It's Nice Up North' (with explanatory song about how shopkeepers were nicer up North than in London ) and a cartoon. There's also a guest appearance of a new character Dave Tordoff - a concreter from Goole who hopes to be an after-dinner speaker and wants a bit of practice. Tordoff is a bit like Harry Enfield's 'Loadsa Money' but with pretensions to being a poet. His jokes are rubbish, but the character is hilarious. He gives a good explanation of his laser screening business too. Via the two very different characters and his music John Shuttleworth takes you on a journey through the highs and lows of everyday life, from the bonding experience over the pressure cooker to the sadness of getting old (done in a rap). Fans of his radio series will be glad to hear that he will sing his pigeon song and the song about his car. Most of the show is quirky and very British (Northern even) in tone and what you find funny depends on personal outlook. The deadpan delivery means that the humour is slow burning and catches up with you when you least expect it. I found myself chuckling about the odd throwaway line long after the show had finished. And I can't seem to stop humming the 'Austin Ambassador Y reg' song. Jeevani Mantotta |