Originally published on www.theskinny.co.uk on Tuesday 30th March – wrong show title not down to me! http://www.theskinny.co.uk/article/99019-dave-gormans-sit-down-pedal-pedal-stop-and-stand-up-tour
Four stars
Unusually for a Dave Gorman show the Sit Down, Pedal, Pedal, Stand Up tour has no particular theme – even the cycling aspect is dispensed with relatively quickly. Gorman explains the growing distance between venues forced him to (almost, not completely) abandon that aspect.
While this is certainly a show you could take your mother to, it’s not all quite so wholesome as it first appears; a significant portion of the show is dedicated to gleeful recollections of practical jokes played on some of his more vulnerable friends. That he completely side-steps any undercurrent of nastiness is a testament to Gorman’s understated showmanship and immense likeability. This also allows him to transcend what are pretty traditional, well-worn stand-up topics and use them to bring his audience to hysterics.
He has the rapt attention of the 1,500 seater theatre from the get-go, with one audience member nearly biting through her hand in an effort not to laugh out loud when Gorman requests silence. In a show of over two hours, the energy in the room does flag slightly at times, but Gorman has a finale most definitely not to be missed. A vow of silence (amongst other things) forbids us from telling you more, but rest assured this is one show that left the audience buzzing.
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