STAND-UP COMEDY REVIEW: Alasdair Beckett-King: Nevermore - Underground At The Old Clubhouse, Buxton.

Alasdair Beckett-King (who? I hear you politely ask)... is a comedian, actor, and even a video games writer, who, despite looking every inch like a time-travelling Scottish warrior from the Middle Ages trapped in our time, is actually from the North East of England. He has made a couple of notable TV appearances recently, and his hair stars in a series of adverts on the Dave TV Channel, so maybe he should be referred to as up-and-coming. But, as he so rightly states himself, he is ageless, and so who knows...!

All I did know was that for the next 60 minutes I was to be in this man's company, and his new show, Nevermore, was receiving its first tentative try-outs on the Buxton Fringe stage. This was a work-in-progress, and so of course there were a few hiccups along the way. Although to be honest, these mattered not one jot, as they just added to the comedy of the evening. 

The title, Nevermore, is a clever one... you need to see the whole show, and wait for the final punchline to get it, but it is worth the wait. He creates a nautical theme, seeing fit to fare the sea and seafaring into the show as often as possible. Beckett-King is not a huge punsmith, although he isn't against dropping in the odd one now and again either; but his routine and style is far more conversational. There seems to be little or no thread to his jumping from subject to subject, or his relating a story from his childhood juxtaposed with a silly joke about the size and shape of cattle in English art... but you'd be wrong. It's very cleverly worked out, and you need to know about his working at the seaside in his youth, or the Bad Boys Club (where does the apostrophe go here... I don't know), etc, because his call-backs are numerous and superb. 

Not only that, but here is a stand-up comedian who relies on his material and his personality for the laughs to flow, rather than the use of expletives. I didn't hear a single swear word the whole set, and it was infinitely the better for it.

Once the ripples have been ironed out, it will be time to 'moisten your groins', sit down for 'the ride of your life', and be entertained by a very funny, very intelligent, and humble Beckett-King. Highly enjoyable.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 12.7.22