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By Isabella Poderico
Initial thoughts:
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant. I need to see him again, live, right now.
Several days later my mind still creeps back to the show, the atmosphere, the laughs, which were all carefully crafted by scheming, comedy mastermind, James Acaster. I've been through a tough time recently and I really needed one of those full chested cackles,a deep down belly laugh, and ‘Hecklers Welcome’ certainly provided me with that. James Acaster is my favorite British comedian of recent time, his sassy, ‘boy- like’ (wink wink from the show) nature is captivating and hilarious, his charm and wit is brilliant. I have been waiting to see one of his shows for several years now, and I did not leave disappointed.
I saw Hecklers Welcome in the Brighton Dome, the night of the 26th of September. The venue selected was perfect for a late night comedy show, it's beautiful, old, charming and plastered with the most gorgeous art and sculptures.The ceilings in the Dome are high and mighty, you'll be captivated by the beauty of the venue as soon as you wander through the door. The show was sold out, packed with people of all ages, with one common goal. To laugh. And laugh they did. Acaster became a miniscule blur on stage as my eyes welled with tears from laughing so hard. I rarely throw my head back cackling but I seriously feared for the people around me that I was obnoxiously laughing too loudly, without a care in the world.
I don't want to give too many spoilers regarding the show as it is still ongoing, but if there's a near perfect comedy show, that was it. James initially starts by swaggering onto the stage, in a mamma mia voyages jacket, and plops down moodily onto a child size dark blue drum kit before he begins drumming his heart out, rather impressively may I add, before snapping into action, orchestrating the crowd into an uproar of applause. He states that he has an obligation to allow and accept all hecklers, and no matter how frustrating, he must remain calm, and peaceful, as ‘Heckler’s Welcome’ suggests. (Although he does make his frustration and hatred for those who heckle abundantly clear through gritted teeth). His persona is perfectly matched with the style of comedy that he performs, he's got a very youthful and fresh charisma, which pairs perfectly with the stories he tells within his routine. These stories weave together wonderfully, like chapters in a book, creating a mental jigsaw puzzle of James' wacky and strange life, where (almost) every aspect of his stories are true. Never once did I feel like my attention was dwindling, my eyes were locked onto James and his captivating storytelling at all times, other than when I was physically throwing my head back with laughter. His comedy doesn't just lie within the stories and the jokes, it's his magnificent stage presence and over exaggeration of movements which add to the humor of it all. James tells these stories like an old friend, he is brutally honest, and at points emotionally vulnerable, but wildly funny and friendly. His presence makes you feel welcome, accepted and safe, and as a woman he is one of the only men who is virtually a stranger that I would trust with my drink at a bar. His comedy doesn't target or make fun of anyone (other than himself), and with the excuse of a couple of profanities, it works for people of all ages. Acaster doesn't try to be anyone other than himself on stage, and it is clear to see that his meticulously thought out and planned routines are almost the perfect example of inclusive, new and witty comedy.
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