Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Richard Herring @ Caroline of Brunswick - Brighton Source
Richard Herring @ Caroline of Brunswick - Brighton Source
Reviews

Richard Herring Review

Jul 5, 2012
-
Posted by Ben Bailey

It may be the second time in two years that Richard Herring has reprised a decade-old stand-up show, but it’s not true that he’s running out of ideas. Since Talking Cock originally riled the censors back in 2002 Herring has toured a new show every year – as well as doing countless radio shows, scripts and strange podcasts about him playing snooker against himself. Then again, most of the above contain their fair share of dick jokes. Let’s just say the man is returning to what he loves best.

Don’t worry, there is a point to all this. Dubbed the “Vagina Monologues for men”, Talking Cock began life as an online survey before becoming an acclaimed stand-up show and a widely-translated book. Having been promised a discussion on the changing nature of male sexual identity, we squeeze into the Caroline’s upstairs room for an Edinburgh preview of the updated show’s ‘Second Coming’.

Catie Wilkins is an interesting choice for a warm-up act. “As a sex-positive feminist on the go,” she says, addressing the theme of her set, “I have a real problem with labels.” Her humour isn’t the sort that demands laughs, instead it lets them roll in of their own accord – usually on the back of darkly droll quips. Although this is a preview of a set-in-the-making, her nervous skattiness (two parts charm, one part shambles) threatens to topple the routine entirely.

Nevertheless, Wilkins finds her stride in time to deliver a series of ‘yer momma’ jokes, brilliantly reworked as dry feminist statements. At this point, her self-effacing sarcasm makes sense of non-gags like: “Your dadda is so subtly patronising that your mother feels stifled. And that’s the real reason she had an affair.” It might not work if you’d read it written down (like she did), but it made a nice contrast to the dick deluge to come.

Given the bizarre responses that the public submitted to Richard Herring’s original questionnaire, it would seem that Talking Cock virtually wrote itself. The question “Where have you put your penis for fun?” produced answers such as “a folding metal chair”, “a Noddy pencil toy” and “a toilet roll spooned full of jelly”. There was more, much more. Amusing though it was, the real comedy came with Herring’s perfectly timed asides and inspired meanderings on the theme of the phallus.

Using his findings as a springboard for jokes, Herring consistently wrong-foots the audience by flipping between stat-crunching, absurd reflections and knowingly silly flights of fancy. “I’ve done a lot of research for this show,” he says, playing the beleaguered artist. “It’s been tough. I’ve even found myself staring into the abyss. I knew sooner or later someone would try and stick their dick into it.”

Between bouts of faux machismo and self-denigration Herring strives to make the point that men’s sexuality is rarely addressed outside the inane arena of lad-mags and blokey bragging. Anyone concerned that the show might amount to some sort of male power meeting would have been reassured by the message hidden among the ‘porridge gun’ gags.

Herring concludes that there is no such thing as a usual penis, that size doesn’t always matter and that ultimately women and men aren’t that different. Of course, all this is accompanied by riffs about self-penned nicknames, the world’s only penis museum and the eternal frustration of not being able to bend over quite far enough.

Even if it’s not big, it’s pretty clever and very funny.

Caroline Of Brunswick, Tuesday 26th June 2012
Words by Ben Bailey

Jul 5, 2012
Email
Ben Bailey
Ben Bailey is the editor of Brighton Source and a freelance writer. He also plays in a few bands and can sometimes be found giving talks on a variety of niche topics. He lives in Brighton and rather likes it.
← PREVIOUS POST
Lightyear Review
NEXT POST →
"I Wanna Sleep With Common Dinosaurs"
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts Review
    Oct 21, 2025

    Expectations are high with a new Inspector Morse story on stage, sadly this is more a ghost of a Morse story, although die hard fans might enjoy it for the nostalgia.

  • The Lovely Eggs Interview
    Oct 15, 2025

    The Lovely Eggs tell us about their 20th anniversary, the new album and tour with Polite Bureax and some comedy legends supporting.

  • Ocean Film Festival Review 2025
    Oct 11, 2025

    A selection of beautifully shot short films covering diverse ocean lovers' passion for interacting with the sea.

  • Fractured Album Launch, Saturday 20th December
    Oct 10, 2025

    Fractured celebrate the release of their new album supported by Amelia And The Housewives.

  • 2:22 A Ghost Story Review
    Oct 7, 2025

    An evening of two couples having dinner together has never before been so gripping and enthralling, filled with tension, with the ultimate question: is their new house haunted or not?

  • Richard Hawley Review
    Oct 5, 2025

    As Coles Corner turns 20, Richard Hawley dazzled and delighted an up-for-it Worthing crowd with a 2 hour-plus set.

  • Brighton Psych Fest 2025 Review
    Sep 26, 2025

    The second Brighton Psych Fest was a beauty as we got down with Getdown Services as the evening sunlight glowed through the Concorde Stained Glass.

  • David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Friday 12th December
    Sep 23, 2025

    One of Brighton's greatest live bands returns for a pre-Xmas homecoming party.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Richard Herring Review - Brighton Source