Paul Foot: Kenny Larch is Dead – The Lowry, Salford

Reviewer: Tracey Lowe

The Public Reviews Rating:

Paul Foot has gained popularity through his appearances on panel show ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’, where his unique hairstyle and zany antics with Noel Fielding made people sit up and pay attention. Paul Foot’s stand-up however, is a completely different beast. His 2011 Edinburgh show, ‘Still Life’, saw him harassing each member of the audience in turn, resulting in quite a few people walking out in fear. ‘Kenny Larch is Dead’ sees less of the audience interaction, and more seemingly random trains of thought from the mulleted marvel.

Gareth Head, Assistant Archivist at Kent Police Museum, is the support act, giving the audience a taste of his heckling policy, a children’s tale on obesity and some beat poetry. His offbeat, quirkly, awkward style is similar to that of Tim Key, and is definitely funny. However, he didn’t draw too many laughs, as the Saturday night crowd were maybe expecting something less subtle. He would certainly go down a treat at the Edinburgh Fringe.

One word to describe Paul Foot would be “manic”. Before he takes to the stage, a voiceover announces that Kenny Larch is finally dead. Kenny Larch is never referenced again, but you are not allowed any time to dwell on this, as Foot launches straight into a story about the world’s largest cheddar collection. Throughout the glorious hour he discusses the perfect conditions for growing cucumbers, BAFTA award nominated actress Sue Johnston’s mishap on a trampoline and some brilliant supermarket anagrams. There is no real link between topics, and his frenetic style is reflected by his bizarre body movements.

Paul Foot is definitely a comedian for the open-minded; if you’re expecting slick routines about public transport or traffic wardens, you will be disappointed. But that isn’t to say this isn’t a well-crafted show. It must take a lot of planning to appear this whimsical. He delivers a chaotic hour, and the audience are happy to be led by this strange individual.