Russell Howard – Wonderbox

Russell Howard is a remarkable entertainer, in that he can plunge the very depths of crudity at times and elicit no more discomfort from his audience than a Tom & Jerry cartoon would for its violence. Such is his impressive mastery of language, his constructs so engagingly colourful and yet ridiculous that he instantly conjures up the joy of a small child with a stick and a particularly mucky puddle. That’s not to say his material can’t also be intelligent – having a television programme that concentrates of international news demands it – but there is an openness in Howard’s delivery that is immediately appealing and disarming. Most enjoyable is the time when he’s telling stories about his family, a fabulous insight into the eccentricities of family life. Well worth his arena stature.

Brighton Centre, 24 March 2014

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