Andy Parsons, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

ANDY PARSONS is ageing, and years of introspection have led him to a simple conclusion: He is ‘crap’ at everything.

This includes, according to the comedian himself, being crap in bed!, using a computer correctly and keeping his weak bladder and bowels in check. All this is not being helped by the fact that he lives in a ‘crap’ country, with ‘crap’ values, elitist politicians and to crown it all a man like Nigel Farage.

Indeed, UKIP was the butt of many a joke at the Wyvern Theatre. As the comic put it ‘UKIP is the joke that keeps on giving.’ 

And to add insult to injury, Andy has discovered that he is even a hopeless driver! This is something he only recently realised to his shock and horror, giving a staggering blow to his male ego in the driving seat.

So what better way to cope, or resign himself to his overall incompetence than to lay bare all his insecurities in front of a packed theatre and dissect his shortcomings, failures and perceived weaknesses - one at a time?

Cathartic for him and, amazingly refreshing for the audience. A real departure from comedians who are usually always keen to puff themselves on stage.

What many may have glimpsed from watching Andy Parsons elbowing his way to the microphone on Mock the Week and sweeping in with a clever one-liner with hawk-like speed, it is that his mind works at a million miles a minute. And for the audience this translated into gag after gag and acerbic quip after quip (his two hecklers did not escape his sharp wit).

His interests are diverse and it’s astounding what a man like Andy Parsons can achieve by surfing the internet. Let’s just say between online dementia tests, chicken pox lollipops and alternative sex tape scenarios, we were well educated into the wonders of the world.

Bringing down before us our whole value system, mocking everything and anything we rely on for self-esteem was one thing, but Andy Parsons was not there to demoralise his audience – he had a job to do and he did well.

So diligently and to hilarious effect, he built us back up in the only way he knew how – with toilet humour. Many of his moral boosting techniques it turns out involve going back to basics ie our bowel functions and praising our ‘poo’ power.

Let’s just say, he is not afraid of a live demonstration.- Marion Sauvebois