Bruce Morton @ The Stand

Review by Simon Pattullo | 30 Mar 2012

If a comic can tell an old, lame joke about a jigsaw and still get the audience to crack up, I'd say he's in the right game. It's all in the delivery, they say, and Bruce Morton demonstrates this perfectly.

Given his extensive presence on the comedy circuit, it's hard to believe this is his first solo gig at the Stand. Dapper in suit, a whisky and coke to hand, he's totally at ease on stage. He effortlessly pulls the crowd onside, and invites us to grab a drink during the show ('go on, I'll not pick on you'), and there's no hint of a heckle. Moreover, this set doesn't appear to have been bowdlerised for the half seven start, and despite the reappearance of some previous material it does feel fresh. The stories are peppered with tangents, a couple of call-backs impress, but it's his enthusiasm and timing that carry it off.

A couple of flat moments are glossed over with a laughing 'that could really do with a better punchline, couldn't it?', and he continues his rambles, bringing in stories of summertime childhood crime, self defence with a plum... and of course an awful gag about a jigsaw.

The Stand, March 27 as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival http://www.brucemorton.net/