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Like I Mean It

Review: Stuart Goldsmith: Like I Mean It

June 22, 2018 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

© Matt Crockett

Stuart Goldsmith has been touring his seventh stand up hour, Like I Mean It for nearly five months now. On one of the last stops of the tour he entertains a room of largely devoted Comedian’s Comedian fans (presumably) at Birmingham’s Glee Club.

Every year that Goldsmith comes to this venue, he bounds onto his stage appearing happier about his material and his place on the comedy circuit than the year before, which is only right as this latest show is one that is solid in its structure, subtle in its callbacks and upbeat in attitude.

This comedian is rather rare in that he holds a different relationship to his audience than most other stand ups, most likely as a direct result of his podcasting background, which has enabled him to share elements of his professional and personal life to listeners on a regular basis. The benefits of granting his audience this insight into his life are clear to see, because we audience members feel like we know him and wish to support him (this is embodied by the tentative lady on the third row who quietly reassures him ‘you’re awesome!’ during the first ten minutes).

Like I Mean It is all about the changes that come along with marriage and having children. Yes, it’s a common theme, but Stuart’s observations are original and maintain reliable laughs. Pair this with elements of the surreal (physically acting out the life and death of daisies picked for daisy chains, and the preparing of French frogs for edible consumption), and it is easy to see a clear knowledge of structural balance. And Goldsmith is so renowned for being nice that moments where the narrative takes a turn towards the macabre are quite delightful.

After a short interval, Goldsmith returns to workshop the skeleton of his new Edinburgh show, End Of, not that it feels much like a workshop at all because it seems he’s already got most of his ideas locked down. He tells us to lower our expectations but it’s clear that he’s confident in this new material, and enjoying performing it.

This show is about being tired and wishing for a break from the unrelenting ambition that drives many of us creatives round the bend. Stu asks himself ‘how much more effort can I give?’ and his pernickety exasperations are contagiously funny. At the moment, the hour is a collection of somewhat disjointed ideas, but that can only be expected as the final couple of months of previews enable him to lock the show’s narrative arc into place.

There are three stops left on Stu’s tour of Like I Mean It: the Soho Theatre, Tringe Festival, and Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre. After this he will be performing End Of at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

Posted in: Comedians, Live Comedy, Reviews Tagged: End Of, Like I Mean It, Live Comedy, Stuart Goldsmith

Interview: Stuart Goldsmith, Like I Mean It

February 7, 2018 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

© Matt Crockett

Stand up comedian and podcaster Stuart Goldsmith is set to tour his seventh show, Like I Mean It, across the UK from February through to June 2018. Having already won Best New Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival, and had a very successful Edinburgh run in 2017, now it’s time for Goldsmith’s creativity to truly shine, as he performs this show to ever-growing audiences across the country.

Hi Stu, how have you been since we last spoke?

Really well thanks – married life is excellent, and my toddler said “good morning daddy” for the first time, unprompted, this morning. So now I feel like I’m in a sixties Disney live action movie. 

How did your latest show, Like I Mean It, evolve? Is there a core story or message?

As ever I tried to write funny stuff with no meaning, and as ever it evolved into something meaningful despite my best efforts! I wouldn’t dream of trying to send a message to anybody, but the core of the show is my blissful happiness now I have everything I always wanted, and the resentment and frustration that somehow comes along with all that contentment. 

Have you surprised yourself at all whilst writing this show?

Absolutely. It’s my seventh show, and my best, and while I’m always surprised that I have anything more to say, in this one in particular I manage to say exactly what I wanted to without beating the audience over the head with it. I also came up with a neat little structural trick which I’m hoping to expand upon for this year, which one favourite reviewer of mine absolutely HATED, so I’m looking forward to annoying her all over again. 

Are you enjoying performing Like I Mean It more than your previous shows?

I think so! It’s more about funny concepts and less to do with being word perfect on the wording of a joke, so it makes for a looser performative experience for me. Also there’s a bit about a frog which I find hilarious if they all go with it, and equally hilarious if none of them do.

Has your work on the Comedian’s Comedian Podcast effected your stand up in any positive (or negative) ways?

I’m sure it has but quite how I couldn’t say. For me the biggest difference has always been that once I realised all comedians worry that we’re impostors, it got much easier to deal with my own self doubt. I should try and keep a list of the things I think to myself during the writing process, as I’m sure there are more concrete examples. 

Can we expect any Q&As after the shows during this tour?

No, this time I’m going to be roughing out a load of wonky new material after each show, so anyone who fancies staying gets a sneak preview cum workshop of the next show! 

Are you dreading writing the next show or looking forward to it?

Dread dread dread. But as soon as I get to the stage where I have too much material it will flip and suddenly become the best job in the world again. IF THAT POINT EVER COMES EVER AGAIN. 

And finally, why should people buy a ticket to see Like I Mean It on tour?

Because if they try and sneak in for free I will publicly shame them.

BOOK TICKETS TO SEE STUART GOLDSMITH’S SHOW, LIKE I MEAN IT, ON TOUR HERE

Posted in: Comedians, Interviews Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Like I Mean It, Stuart Goldsmith
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