Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 102
Shirley Ghostman's Spooktacular review
The whole show would benefit from being tighter, but Wooton's performance is as, erm, spirited as you could want, as he sells his ideas with bold conviction - even overcoming the evil juju that got into the PA system and cursed his headset mic.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th October 2016Review: Shirley Ghostman's Spooktacular
Shirley Ghostman is back from the dead - and just in time for Halloween.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th October 2016Comedian discussion: Taking offence at jokes is stupid
Taking offence at jokes displays a 'self-imposed stupidity', comedians claimed yesterday at the Battle Of Ideas festival.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th October 2016Gary Tank Commander Live review
It's a plot that's stretched a bit thin over two-and-a-half hours (including interval), McHugh not being the first sitcom writer to find difficulties in extending a half-hour format to a feature length. The second half, especially, spends a lot of time on plotting and exposition of a fairly simple story at the expense of laughs. Our possible ISIS man even gets to sing a ballad I Am Your Brother, Set Me Free without irony or piss-take.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 21st October 2016Prevenge - review
Prevenge was screened in the 'laughs' comedy strand of the London Film Festival, but the humour in Alice Lowe's directorial debut most definitely of the jet-black tone. Its tone is bleak and unnerving, with only the occasional dry comic moment offering relief from the brutal actions of its serial-killing anti-heroine, Ruth.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th October 2016Ross Noble: Brain Dump review
He wanted to tell us something about feminism, but true to the form of the past 20-plus years, Ross Noble got distracted.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th October 2016Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award review
Once they had all performed, it was clear that that Birmingham Comedy Festival's Breaking Talent Award was a two-horse race. In one corner, Tom Christian, with an appealing line in quirky, imaginative gags; in the other, the slick and wry observational comedy of Harv Hawkins. And in the end it was the latter who edged it.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 8th October 2016The Outcast Comic review
It's a strange phenomenon of modern times that Andrew Lawrence can foster an edgy, rebellious image for adopting the exact-same reactionary tone of the government and most of the press.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th October 2016Zapped review
After finding success with the revival of Red Dwarf, the Dave channel has now turned to another cult genre to find its next comedy hit: fantasy. And the signs from the first episode of Zapped are pretty encouraging.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 6th October 2016Josie Long: Something Better review
Ultimately, the message is that while her side is beaten and down, despair is a luxury that can't be indulged. Optimism isn't just a vacuous state of mind, it needs action to sustain it - and if you need motivation into taking that action, Long's your woman.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 5th October 2016