Mark Watson is veteran of stand-up and quite a prolific worker. His first success on the comedy landscape was as part of the Footlights Revue show in Edinburgh, which garnered a Perrier Best Newcomer nomination and since then has been a regular fixture at The Fringe Festival. He is a familiar face on TV via the standard appearances on Live At The Apollo, Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You and notably featured in Taskmaster’s standout series in 2017 alongside Sally Philips, Bob Mortimer, Aisling Bea and Nish Kumar. His current tour ‘The Infinite Show’ is a development of his Edinburgh Fringe offering from 2018.
Upon arriving at the theatre we were handed cards which encouraged us to reveal traits or beliefs that other people don’t understand about us. We were to write something on the card and Watson would use them during the show to explore his topic of alienation, communicating and encouraging understanding with one another. I can’t say that I was encouraged by this because it suggested one or both of two eventualities; Either Watson was going to spar with the audience all night or his audience were going to convince their selves that they were on a par with a professional and highly intellectual comedian, so they can riff loudly on his material with equally witty repartee. Having submitted a card myself, I assured my wife that if it got read out, that we should remain silent, so that we didn’t become “those guys”, whom I hate with spiteful venom.
In the auditorium the screen, acting as a backdrop, showed scanned copies of previous cards revealing insights and prejudices of audience members that were mildly amusing, but judging by the lack of recognition in the Quays Theatre, these were definitely from previous shows. When the house lights dimmed and screen changed it was time for our act, who was introduced by captioning on the screen (a welcome twist on the comedian introducing themselves in the third person from the wings). The caption cleverly encouraged us to applaud politely and was written in a way that timed a pregnant pause, so that Watson’s socially awkward persona was already framed before his arrival on stage.
Watson’s affable, nervy delivery in a Bristolian accent was a reassuring presence on stage. He is eager to explain that his interaction with the crowd is a not aimed at singling anyone out or making them feel uncomfortable and he elicited laughs by explaining how stand-up is the only entertainment form that the audience are afraid of being attacked in. As the show unfolded, Watson worked through the cards and seamlessly blended it with prepared material. It is hard to know exactly what subjects are on Watson’s agenda and which are prompted by the cards, such is the ease with which he works. His interactions with the audience are friendly, creative and quick-witted to a consistently funny level.
To my horror Watson read out my card first, and then asked who wrote it. Watson’s reassurances that he would treat us kindly meant that it would be disingenuous to hide silently in the dark whilst he uncomfortably waited for my response and before I knew it, I was shouting out and riffing along “hilariously” with the former Cambridge University footlights everyman as though I had the right and/or skill to do so. I felt ten feet tall as he used my “material” on stage. However, after writing this review I have promised to build that time machine I have always wanted, so that I can go back to last night and punch myself in the face. I have become the kind of man I have always hated.
As Watson covers rather hoary subjects of raising children, divorce and faltering careers he does so with such wit that the material feels fresh and funny. His use of new material every night, generated by the audience is a testament to the skill of this veteran. What he makes look so easy is actually the incredibly deft workings of a quick and intelligent mind that relishes the challenge.
Mark Watson’s Infinite Show is touring throughout 2019 with an increasing number of dates booked (82 and counting), which is in no way connected to the terms of his divorce settlement! He is a comedian at the top of his game and is worth seeing, perhaps more than once on each tour, because you’re almost guaranteed a different set every night.
Reviewer - Ben Hassouna-Smith
on - 17/2/19
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