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Richard Herring – Ménage a Un
- The Arts Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, London
- 29 March 2007
Half of one of Britain’s greatest double acts, over two decades on the stand-up scene and still under appreciated
Ménage a un raises the same question that his performances always do, why the hell does he not get a bit more praise? His intelligently constructed act flits (albeit slightly shambolically) from one original idea to the next and although the subject matter – generally based around being single and alone at 39 – is traditional territory he addresses the subjects with a uniquely reflective voice, honed throughout his long career.
Perhaps the reason Herring has never really gained mass acclaim for his solo act is that at the height of his career he played an idiot version of himself to Stewart Lee's straight man. It still slightly jars to see his real self reflecting on the subject of loneliness while deconstructing his comedy, telling the audience how he sent them one way and then took the joke another.
This was the sort of thing the character of Herring would have fallen for ten years ago. His real self however is an accomplished and clever writer and performer. The subject matter is nothing new but this in fact shows Herring's continuing ability to instil a fresh comic voice into a generally generic and safe market.
Herring says he is still learning about stand-up but, as with every year, his show will be one of the most original and worthwhile at the Fringe.
Josh Widdcombe
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