Richard Herring @ The Stand, Glasgow
The beautifully titled Can I Have My Ball Back? is the first tour from Richard Herring in six years, pushed back by childcare, a pandemic and someone cutting off his testicle
In an interesting trend of late, comedians are mining their various ailments and health issues for gags, and while testicular cancer may seem as close to taboo as one could get, there is nobody better equipped to handle it than Richard Herring. Having previously written shows and books dedicated to penises and masculinity, it was either a cruel trick of fate or a golden gift handed to the comic that he would live through this and inevitably make a show about it.
Ever self-effacing, Herring kicks off with the brilliant opening line “I was never good at keeping a double act together”, and from there we hit the ground running. Latching onto the unfortunate parallels between his body of work and his recent circumstances outlines the majority of the show, with a few touching anecdotes about his children growing up squeezed in.
It’s a curious balance throughout the night as Herring nudges towards poignant contemplations of leaving his children fatherless and the damming self-inflicted burden of masculinity – while also shoehorning in as many knob gags as possible. Each punchline feels well-earned, with a particular favourite being referring to his picturesque manhood as ‘the penis de milo’ but the harsh juxtaposition between joke and the show’s theme is ever-present.
Occasionally teetering close to TED talk territory, it’s clear the comic wants to earnestly hammer home the importance of self-inspection, while also making the night entertaining. Although he succeeds in providing both a moving and funny set, it can occasionally feel as if the comic doesn’t know which to prioritise; jokes are sacrificed for genuine medical information, and moments of sincere sentimentality are undercut by a quick dick quip.
Richard Herring is always a safe pair of hands for a funny night out, but where his latest show may be his most important to hear, it could potentially make it his least entertaining in the process.
Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back?, reviewed as part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival, 28 March 2025, touring the UK until 1 Jun
Richard Herring: RHLSTP, The Stand Comedy Club (Stand 3), 30 Jul - 10 Aug, 2pm as part of Edinburgh Fringe 2025