This show was always going to be interesting for me for two reasons. The first was that this would be the first time I was going to see a comedian in a large venue, rather than in small theatres and comedy clubs, so the experience would be different with different sorts of people turning up. Secondly, I had actually seen a preview of the show in May last year, as Rhod had done a turn at my local comedy club to prepare for Edinburgh and it was already good then. So it was going to be interesting how it had changed. Another thing that made it interesting that I did not know before hand was the show was being recorded for the DVD, as I was only aware that the previous night's show had been recorded.
There was also a support, which was something that I had not experienced before at a solo comedy show. Andrew Bird was funny and actually matched Rhod in terms of physical style and whimsy. One thing I hope that goes into the DVD is when Andrew mocked Rhod for having a giant sign and accusing him of being like Elvis just because he did the Visit Wales ads and Rhod, who was at the side of the stage, threw a banana at him!
The things Rhod are mainly known for are ranting about small things and this was a theme that was continued. Instead of togs and torches it was hoovers and washing machines. He also attacked the media for their criticism of him, especially targeting The Daily Telegraph and asking people if they read it then having ago at them. What I really enjoyed was when he combined the rants with brilliantly surreal visual ideas, which I don't want to spoil, but he made it so you couldn't always tell what was true and what was a lie and that made it so much more compelling.
He is also very physical in his work, a lot of use of the stool which he has on stage as well as moving a lot around the stage, certainly not just being a stand up.
In the second half he goes on to talk about his time at anger management therapy, reliving childhood memories, having a go at his Radio Wales listeners (which he does on the show anyway!) and cats that look like people. He even does a bit that involved his Radio Wales co-host Chris Cochran (who on a side note I am seeing in May). He is just so brilliant generally. He also did a meta joke to do with some of his older material.
The audience definitely laughed a lot, which you would hope considering the relative expense of it compared to other comedy shows at smaller venues. I would call the audience masochistic, yelling things out so that Rhod could rant and rave at them, which made it all the more fabulous. It was certainly a contrast when he thanked the audience profusely after swearing and hand gestures at them!
Overall he was fantastic, he did almost two hours of material, which was good for the price and it was certainly worth it. I do want to see him again, although I don't think it will be at least until next year as he is continuing touring The Cat... during this year, including another limit run at Edinburgh because he sold out before the festival had even began. Do try and go and see him and if not go buy the DVD when it's out!
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