Review: Stuart Goldsmith – Compared to What
Stu Goldsmith is currently touring his second stand up hour, and due partly to his recent appearance as Jack Whitehall’s tour support for his Wembley Arena shows, Stu’s audience in the studio room at Birmingham Glee Club has more than doubled since last year.
With the birth of his first child a little over a year ago, Stuart has made a ‘compromise’ and moved to the countryside, to live with his partner. Now, he is nostalgic for the passive-aggressive nature and fast pace of the city, and is keen to demonstrate why. His observations are accurate and take a refreshingly new stance on the life of a city-dweller, which is a well-trodden terrain in the world of stand up. It seems as though Goldsmith’s life, both personally and professionally, is hurtling at 100 miles per hour, and this is something that is truly exciting to see. The comic is energised, and yet he comes across as more centred, calm and comfortable than I have ever seen or heard him before.
© Nick Gast
Goldsmith’s comedy becomes more skilled and efficient as each year passes. He’s a true grafter, clued up on the ins and outs of performers from all over the world yet dedicated to the nurturing of his own amiable, lively storyteller style. But this year he’s got an extra sense of ‘edginess’ about him. Stuart is cheekier, seeming to enjoy being on stage more. He plays around with ideas with the freedom of someone previously limited in some respect, and I think these previous obstacles must have been behind the scenes because his material has always been the epitome of well-established comedy. Knowing Stu, we can be sure that there is a great amount of detailed analysis going on beneath the surface. We only see his best stuff. And that’s what makes this latest hour such a great feat.
Stu treats his audience to an extra half hour or so of preview material after the initial hour show. This seems to be a sensible model, as audiences get more for our money and the comic gets to run through some new concepts in front of a crowd. And the post-show informal podcast chat proves insightful, as always, with an extra buzz to discussion stemming from the exciting prospect of a recently recorded interview with Stewart Lee.
Not only is this latest show heart-warming and humble and very funny, Compared to What is entertainment from start to finish. Stuart Goldsmith has a passion for comedy that is infectious. He’s in his prime, each year getting stronger and more self-assured, becoming more and more of a genuinely expert writer with each new show.