Argumental Series 2

Teaser clip

More Marcus Brigstocke videos

Marcus Brigstocke started his career in comedy while at Bristol University, as part of the Club Seals troupe alongside Danny Robins and Dan Tetsell. He and soon won the 1996 BBC New Comedian Award at the Edinburgh Festival.

As well as his live work, he fronts BBC Four's Late Edition, starred in short-lived BBC1 sitcom The Savages and is a regular on Radio 4's Now Show.

His upper-class-twit creation, Giles Wemmbley Hogg has starred in two Radio 4 series, one about his travels to the Third World, the second revolving around the 2006 World Cup.

CV

School For Scandal - Fringe 2009
Live Review

This Comedians’ Theatre Company production is a riot of corpsing, in-jokes and general mucking about, occasionally interrupted by a Restoration comedy.

It is, apparently, how Sheriden would have wanted it. His Georgian comedy of manners was intended to be loosely performed, allowing celebrity actors of the day free reign to embellish the script and play to their stage persona. In this way it’s the perfect Edinburgh play, able to employ stand-ups who are the stars of this particular month-long insular society, where they are temporarily famous for their individual styles.

The finer points of the plot do get lost amid all the high-jinks, making the overly-busy production more of a playground where the cast can don powdered wigs and extravagant bustles or breeches and run around the elegant set as if they’ve each just guzzled a litre of Sunny D. At one point, an exasperated character utters, with typically anachronistic nod to the audience: ‘It’s Restoration comedy, not Pappy’s Fun Club, for flip’s sake.’ Could have fooled us.

The star casting is 77-year-old Lionel Blair, as the henpecked Sir Peter Teazle, husband of a much younger wife (Bridget Christie, blowing nicely hot and cold), and butt of many a gag about his advancing years. The fact that the jokes could be as much about the character as the celebrity playing him is typical of the essence of the show.

He might be the big name, but he’s not necessarily the star. That honour probably goes to Amy Saunders – best known as sword-swallower Miss Behave – playing the scheming Lady Sneerwell (none-too-subtly named given her propensity to scoff at others) with over-the-top finesse.

King of the scene-stealers, in a cast riddled with them, is Steve Jameson as Moses. In many recent productions, the character’s Jewish heritage has been played down, for fear of anti-semitism. But here, he Heebs it up, wisecracking like Groucho Marx, and almost as funny.

Running him a close second is the foppish Paul Foot, who was born to prance around with such effete exaggeration. Sometimes his physical flourishes are over-the-top even for this unsubtle production, but you still just have to watch him.

Ella Kenion’s Mrs Candour is also a delight; her jaw quivering with delight at the prospect of imparting or learning some fresh nugget of salacious gossip. Marcus Brigstocke gets to be a supercilious, aloof wastrel, Stephen K Amos is a lightweight but flamboyant comic relief, and Phil Nichol is a central fulcrum of relative restraint – that shows just how out-of-control the extravagance has got.

In some ways, it’s an embarrassment of riches, with too much going on – both scripted and otherwise – as the flourishes overwhelm the actual play. Acclaimed director Cal McCrystal could do with tightening some segments up, while still allowing for improvisation, if the production is to have any life outside Edinburgh. Though given the size of the cast and the commitment needed, that may well prove impossible.

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Even worse than the BBC's infatuation with the feeble Marcus is his audience of whooping metro-cretins. Superb writing? Where? Just a badly-drawn demo of what it means to sound like a wanker with no redeeming qualities.

Baz, August 2010

Not even funny.

Anon, June 2010

His plagiarism of Jon Stewart having failed - primarily because Stewart, though of dubious politics, actually KNEW about the political arena he attempted to satirise, Brigstocke should stick to comic acting.

Mandy Allan, January 2010

Clearly from the comments, Brigstocke's not for everyone. I have a similar background and similar politics to Brigstocke, so maybe that's why his stuff works for me, particularly since he is very aware that his background colours his views and experiences. I like the rants, I like the Daily Mail straw men. I like the fact that most of the time he's PC but can still say awkward stuff (rarely, I'll admit).

Harriet R, September 2009

One of the best rising stars in comedy. Witty and hilarious.

David, August 2009

Brigstocke is an effortlessly funny individual. His jokes come thick and fast; he always remembers that funny comes first; and never fails to leave a room satisfied for those that want their comedy to pack a punch and those that enjoy middle-class ways. To me, he is the epitome of what good stand-up should consist of. He has a political persuasion that filters through his arguments, he enjoys mockery but only when there's a purpose, and his jokes are beautifully crafted and well-told. In brief, he is a slick and superb stand-up. Well done, chap.

Bill Ryan, July 2009

Brigstocke would have made a fabulous 17th century witchfinder general. Conformist peacock.

Arable Land, June 2009

I think he's great, and the Pacman joke is still one of the best I've heard

Simon, June 2009

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