Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 33
Mammoth review
There are strong Life On Mars-in-reverse vibes to Mammoth, the new BBC Wales sitcom from comedian Mike Bubbins.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 5th November 2021Ahir Shah: Dress review
Ahir Shah is one of the most astute stand-ups around, so he's well aware of the pitfalls of basing a show on the past 18 months, in which we've all observed the exact same things and are in no rush to have some comedian remind us of them.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 4th November 2021Beat The Frog World Series Final 2021 review
This year's 'world series' final of Manchester's Beat The Frog new act challenge was a game of two halves. Before the interval the crowd were subdued, not even giving compere Danny McLoughlin's quick-witted ad libs the laughs they deserved; afterwards they were reenergised, and the comedians sharper too. Which is cause and which is effect is open to debate.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd November 2021Rob Beckett: A Class Act review
You can thank Covid for every comedian deciding they had a book in them once they were stuck at home, but Rob Beckett has delved deeper that knocking out a passable celebrity memoir by touching on matters of class and mental health that you might not expect.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd November 2021Steve Hughes: Are You Serious? review
I would never normally be so unprofessional to review a gig if I left before the end. But as Steve Hughes pulled up his stool to tell us he's not a conspiracy theorist, 'it's called knowledge, people', I found I had someplace else to be. And since the clock had edged past midnight by this point, decreasing public transport options of how to get there. Already the Australian outsider had spent quite a hefty portion of last night's gig on an anti-woke, men's rights agenda mixed with new-agey babble. Part 'do your own research, sheeple', part 'I believe in astrology'.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th October 2021Brighton Grin final review
Who would start stand-up in a pandemic? But despite the dearth of gigs in which to hone their craft over the past 18 months, the finalists in the first Brighton Grin new act competition last night set a cracking standard.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 28th October 2021Archie Maddocks review
Straight out of the traps, Archie Maddocks admits he regrets the title of this revived 2019 Edinburgh Fringe show - even though he's had a long pandemic to fix it.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 27th October 2021Alan Carr: Regional Trinket review
Unconvincingly, he professes to hate being camp - but he's so damn good at it, buoying the audience on his exaggerated over-reactions to the most trivial of concerns.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 26th October 2021The Outlaws review
It's a wonder no one thought of this before. Community service is a perfect premise for a sitcom: an opportunity to mix up characters from all walks of life in a situation they can't get out of... at least not until their sentences are served.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 25th October 2021Lasties review
Lasties offers a congenial slice of only slightly exaggerated realism, with delightfully surreal touches, all emerging from loving character portraits of simple men with simple pleasures. It's a pleasure drinking with them...
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 21st October 2021