Soho Theatre, Dean St, London – until Saturday 18th May 2024
Reviewed by Phil Brown
5*****
I’m not really sure how Dave Hill, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, arrived at the title of this brilliant show, but I think I see what he means. Although he is in total control of the array of advanced electronics in front of him, (and therefore is an advanced member of our species), you get the feeling that he still doesn’t quite fit into the modern, adult world and probably likes it that way.
He explodes onto stage like an overgrown teenager in a patch encrusted jump suit and helmet, riding a BMX bike which he skids into a bank of seats your reviewer had recently vacated for a better view. A few minutes of total chaos ensue as Dave shreds his Flying V like a 70s guitar hero, amidst an eruption of special effects – fog and snow… “Whatever you do, don’t breathe in”
There is something instantly likeable about the youthful Dave Hill, helped by mining a different seam of inspiration from many modern comedians. This guy isn’t trying to make a point, he is trying to entertain and he succeeds in spades. His delivery is an endearing blend of nerdy humility, petulant energy, resignation, dry asides and surreal flights of fancy, with a semi-tic of saying “thank you” timed for maximum amusement. He seems to absolutely fizz with thoughts that are barely complete before being overtaken by the next. And I’m guessing he spent a long time in a teenage bedroom getting this accomplished on guitar.
He launches into the show with audience requests (any song) that humorously last a few seconds before introducing the things he loves about London – the history, the landscapes, the sex, and, er, Poundland – which becomes the vehicle for an hilarious excursion into his plans for updating the firm’s advertising strategy – “we sell everything except dignity”. He then engages expertly with the audience on his never fail “pick up lines” for girls in London, introducing the back up musicians (bass and drums) to lay down a tasty groove in support, as well as becoming another target for his withering humour.
Judging by the number of mentions, religion seems to be reasonably high in Dave’s consciousness and the quality of his material maintains its upward curve as he reinterprets the loaves and fishes miracle to seriously comic effect. Even his merch pitch is laced with richly self deprecating humour – “if I cared about money, this wouldn’t be the act”
Dave Hill is living proof of Ben Elton’s theory of comedians – the buttock clenching nature of the occupation means that their backsides age much faster than the rest of the body. Dave’s appearance of arrested youth belies the fact he’s been in his forties for “at least 10 years now” – a surprising age, especially given his mostly laid back demeanour, to get into your first fist fight, which inspired his closing piece and pièce de résistance, an insanely catchy, cleverly constructed song documenting the event. He then sets his guitar to feed back and as the band continues to play exits, as he arrived, in a blaze of BMX bike..
This well paced, gloriously original show is a wholly compelling joy. It’s brim full of keen observation, crazy ideas, non-stop laugh out loud comedy and superb musicianship. I loved it.