Last years ‘If You Would Prefer A Milder Comedian’ ranked as some of Stewart Lee’s best work to date, stretching the limitations of repetition to the max and delivering perhaps his finest vitriolic attack yet upon top gear’s Richard ‘The Hamster’ Hammond. Now, only nine months later he is back in Sheffield with a new show, road testing new material for his upcoming second series of ‘Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle’, named Vegetable Stew.
Some material he is revisiting from years ago, perhaps checking it’s impact on a fresh crowd. He seems to be extending further on the analyses and assessment of the show as it occurs, he’s defamatory and self-deprecating in equal measure and gives the allure of spontaneity, but knowing his work it’s clear to see every aspect is meticulously planned. The strength of the material, in all honesty, isn’t quite up to scratch to that of his previous tour. It at times lacks the bite and vigour of previous work. The show is split up into three sections it seems, the first covering a few bits - largely his grandad’s fascination with crisps - the middle section on the cult of celebrity (and especially, rich ones), and the last one on the new Conservative government. The middle section is where his strength lies; his assault and breakdown of familiar characters and his seething return to attacking Mock The Week comedians.
His belly is clearly full of fire, but such is his emphasis on content rather than performance, we rarely see him break out from the solemn, nonchalant exterior into the boisterous Stewart Lee - although, when he does it’s a treat. Getting out the guitar fell flat this time round - last time it was pertinent and genuinely touching, whereas this time it feels more like he knows he has quite a nice voice and it’s being used more as a platform than a necessity.
It did dwindle slightly. That said, Stewart Lee’s average material has more gusto and subtle insight in it than the entire Mock The Week panel combined, and I will always return to see him whenever he tours. He is a vital voice, somebody that stems from the seeds of compassion, and a genuine understanding and appreciation of what’s good, right and wrong. Only when you encounter Stewart Lee do you realise how rare these voices are - and that can become a sobering realisation of just how fucking doomed we are. Sadly there aren’t enough people like Stewart in the media or even the world.