Mark Steel makes a rather understated entrance to the Concert Hall in Reading. No warm up act; no fanfare - just a slight dimming of the lights as the headliner approaches the mic. It would be easy to miss realising the show has started.

Tonight's show is part stand-up, part lecture. The set is dressed with a large French flag, and the apparent hook for Mark Steel's act is the early stages of the French Revolution, featuring (mainly) its inhabitants, Georges Danton and Maximillien Robespierre. Mark Steel presents their stories in a meandering kind of way, allowing himself the opportunity to take wild tangents at every turn. His staunch socialist and anti-royalist politics are illustrated by pointing out the absurdity of modern life; he goes on the attack of the middle classes, religion, private schools, Americans and he subverts the hysterical reaction of the British to the floods ('get some perspective - you lost a few CDs').

He makes many references to Simon Schama, the TV historian at the opposite end of the scale to Mark Steel's own documentaries. You can tell there is no love lost between the pair, as Simon Schama would appear to represent everything Mark Steel abhors.

If it sounds overly polemic, then fear not. Mark Steel has a gift to shine a ludicrous spotlight on the humdrum that ensures there are plenty of laughs. And it's educational - Mark Steel even describes it as Wikipedia with gags. He really does tell the story of the French Revolution and the parts played by Danton and Maximillien, even if he can't help being distracted - and involved - with the objects onstage. He fumbles with the mic stand, but turns it into a comic ad lib. He even plays the large organ that is an imposing feature of the Reading Concert Hall. It's splendidly unscripted, and a testament to his natural comic ability that it works so well.

Much of his material is clearly specific to this gig. He talks about local Reading history, and notably its connection with Oscar Wilde. He also tackles the notorious one-way system. It's quite a privilege in knowing that the night's show will never be precisely repeated.

Mark Steel is undeniably an intelligent comic in the true sense of the word.

Credits: Written and performed by - Mark Steel. Technical Manager - Rick Bull. Stage Manager - Justin Patient.

END

(c) Pete Shaw 2007

reviewed Friday 19 October 07 / The Concert Hall, Reading

Fringe Report's Reading Comedy Festival 07 coverage is organised and edited by Gill Smith.

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008