This wiry,
little man creeps onto stage and lets rip with a furiously rapid, broad Scots
accent. **** me – Begbie’s doing stand-up!
Strain’s material is purely
centred on a potential criminal intent/past/upbringing so has a tendency to
become slightly predictable and only ‘amusing’ rather than outright funny.
However, every comic uses some sort of hook or gimmick to mark their comedy
territory and his is fairly unique in that there are not many comics out there
who profess to an illicit livelihood.
My only other criticism (and it’s
purely a regional thing) is that I found it quite difficult to hear what he was
saying. Whether it was nerves or simply his style of delivery, the speed on top
of the accent forced such an intense level of concentration that the punchlines
weren’t given the time to sink in or a gap between each delivery to react
to.
Strain is an okay comedian but
required too much work too early in the evening. Given time and a higher billing
I’m sure he’ll be a much more accessible act.
Place on bill:
1st Act
Venue: Creased
Up - The Hawth, Crawley
Date of show:
13th February
2005
