Chris Ramsey - Feeling Lucky Review
rating: 4
Knocking out three jokes in his introduction to the support act, its immediately clear that Sand-Dancer Chris Ramsey is a talent on par with the best of them. His amiable nature and almost constant Cheshire grin make him impossible not to like, creating a sense that he really is thrilled to be performing and helping build up a relationship with the audience to the point that they almost feel hes a personal mate come the shows climax. Unfortunately one must first sit through twenty minutes of weak support act Carl Hutchinson before seeing the main man himself, which is a challenge considering hes about as relatable as Nick Griffin on PCP and comes across as uncomfortably aggressive from the off. Its suspected he might have been chosen simply to make Ramsey look better, as Hutchinson sets such a low standard a carrot could have come on stage afterwards and made the crowd ecstatic. When Chris Ramsey does make it to the stage the rooms atmosphere instantly picks-up. Starting with some friendly and sagacious improvisation with the audience, a relationship is created that will only get stronger over the succeeding 90 minutes. Although this part of the show only lasts a few minutes, frequent distractions throughout the set lead Ramsey back into talking to the crowd, which, along with his asking of questions to certain people every now-and-again, keeps the sense of connection strong and allow more ad-libbing. Unlike some other comedians, these interactions never turn accusatory, meaning the people he chooses to talk to are always part of the fun rather than being the butt of the joke. From poo to trains to family to... uh... more poo, Ramseys material is distinctly Northern, yet it never gets to the point where people from other walks of life feel excluded or confused. Its clear from the variation in the audience that Ramsey is one of the most universally likeable comedians on the circuit, with students and pensioners laughing side-by-side as they watch him perform in the same room he appeared in as a novice years before. His delivery is what really makes him the stand-out comic that he is, flowing seamlessly from one anecdote to the next and showing a level of self-deprecation that prevents his persistent cheerfulness from ever turning into seeming arrogance. However, the titular theme Feeling Lucky does seem to be abandoned half-way through, with many of the stories only tenuously linked to the idea at best, making it seem more like an afterthought chosen because almost anything can be attributed to luck rather than anything well thought out, leaving him shoe-horning a reference to it every so often in an unsuccessful attempt to appear deep. Saying that, the show never becomes pretentious or unfunny, two constant risks when having any theme in a stand-up set. No matter who you are, Chris Ramsey is impossible to dislike, a rare quality which even world famous comedians like Russell Brand and Eddie Izzard havent managed to grasp, and hell doubtlessly get even better as his career progresses; so catch him now before you have to re-mortgage your house to afford the tickets. Seen the show? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.