Kevin Bridges has been one of the breakout comedy sensations of the last couple of years. Following a standout performance on Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow, the 23-year-old was catapulted from small gigs in clubs to headlining his own tour, which included the huge SECC in Glasgow.
That gig has been recorded for posterity and released on DVD, just in time for Christmas. The thing I couldnt help but wonder when watching it, is whether Bridges stardom will last. Theres no doubt hes a funny chap, but his comedy does seem a bit dwarfed by the size of the venue. Its difficult to tell whether this is simply because he was intimidated by playing in front of thousands of his hometown fans, or whether his comedy is smaller and more intimate than the SECC can cater for. Indeed Im not entirely sure whether the current vogue for arena comedy is a good thing or not. For example even on DVD Lee Evans seemed to sucked into the cavernous O2, while Bill Baileys anarchy seemed dulled in the enormous Wembley Arena.
Its not as much of a problem here, even if there is still a whiff of a quite funny man playing a gig far larger than would be best for his comedy. Theres plenty to make you smile, whether its his impressions of those from the South East or the difficulty of being a fuller figured man trying to buy jeans in a trendy shop.
One thing that does get a little frustrating though is his tendency to laugh at his own jokes, simply because it starts coming across as an affectation after a while. Who knows, perhaps he does find the joke hes told a hundred times before is still as funny as the when he first thought it up, but I doubt it. It may seem a small thing, but after a while it starts to feel like hes giving you hints, rather than just trusting the comedy to work on its own. But then he is still very early in his comedy career to have been thrust to such heights, so to a certainly extent hes still learning his craft. Its just whether he can take his current success and build on it, or whether hell slowly disappear bank into the assorted ranks of comics.
Theres no doubt he got talent. The gig is funny, his comic timing is good, and while not an uproarious triumph, its an entertaining disc thatll make you laugh. However it tends to be more gently funny than outstandingly hilarious, which again makes you feel that perhaps a big theatre rather than an exhibition centre would have been a better home. Even so, its a fairly minor complaint, as the 80-minute set is definitely funny, and anyones whose liked him on TV shouldnt mind receiving this disc as a gift.
And as it was Bridges Comedy Roadshow performance that launched him onto the national stage, thats also included here. Its a good job they did, as many people know him for a single joke he told on Michael McIntyres show about being at a bus stop. He gently refuses to tell it in the main gig, despite much coaxing from the audience, so if you want to hear it again, it is included on the special features.
Overall Verdict: A funny disc from a funny man, even if the venue threatens to dwarf the intimacy of his observations.
Special Features:
Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow Appearance
Reviewer: Tim Isaac