I went with a few friends to see Neil Delamere in the Concert Hall in UL last Friday. Having seen him several times on The Panel, I was looking forward to his stand-up show.
As a comedian, his show is based on a lot of audience interaction and he creatively builds his witticisms on the audience’s responses. As a light entertainer, Delamere is among the very best. While he did try to touch upon some topical subjects, he never delved deep enough to make the audience really think about the world outside. You get the feeling that he is at his very best when he has another professional comedian to interact with, just like he has on The Panel, and that a general audience isn’t enough to stretch his comedic abilities.
The show itself lasted just over an hour – an hour in which time seemed to fly. Overall, it was an enjoyable night, definitely worth the price of admission. However, on leaving the auditorium there was a sense that Delamere has a lot more to offer and I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed that I hadn’t the chance to see him at his best.
When all is said and done though, I’d go to see his life show again, but I think that I’d prefer to see The Panel live.
By the way, despite the fact that I work around the corner from the UCH, it was my first time at a gig there. It’s an amazing facility, right on my doorstep, and I will be going back.
