Steve Coogan - what went wrong?
THERE was only room for 250 words of critique in today's paper on Steve Coogan's Liverpool show last night, and they had to be polite and professionally written words at that.
But really... come on... what the hell was that?!
The original review appears in bold, with the ramblings of a gutted Cooganite following in normal type. Were you there? Was it just me?! Comments please. It will help me make sense of what happened. Like therapy.
IT had seemed somewhat strange that Steve Coogan, cracking America quite nicely at the moment, had decided to tour the UK as (to use the title of the show itself) Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters.
(Because he just did a scene-stealing job in the awesome Tropic Thunder, made a huge impact over there with Hamlet 2 and was in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Why spoil it now?)
And after a contemptible and almost woeful show last night, the question still remains.
(If he hasn't damn near ruined his reputation in this country with this, I'd be surprised.)
An audience of a mere few thousand filled the arena to see Coogan last night, and a lesser number stayed to the end.
(He charged £30 a pop for the most offensively half-arsed evening of comedy theatre I have ever seen in my life.)
He first appeared as Pauline Calf with what would have been a cute, funny song and dance number if he had injected it with any life at all. Some good one liners went mostly to waste as lines were fluffed and rushed, and the precedent had been set - although the part where she read from her new book was quite a giggle.
(I love Pauline Calf so much. I wanted this to work and with a bit of effort it would have been brilliant. But still, at this point there was time...)
Next was Tommy Saxondale,
(Probably the most consistent part of the evening as Coogan took on his recent knackered old roadie character. An interesting enough set about the dangers of drugs and a high energy song kept it ticking over.)
before his wacky comedian Duncan Thicket made a lamentable appearance,
(Awful.)
and then Paul Calf.
(Again, some good material and another very good song full of wit, with a bit of Benny Hill-esque leering for good measure (a bit lame).)
Excitement was palpable for the arrival of Alan Partridge,
(This is true. It was cool.)
and things began well with some quality daft songs from the man,
(He's in a polo neck and bomber jacket! It's Alan Partridge singing The Final Countdown! Things were looking up. A great, energised start to the second half.)
but his inexplicable play about Sir Thomas More
(Alan had returned as the author of a successful motivation guide, Forward Solutions. But the nuances of the TV series were lost and things went downhill as he announced he had written and would be starring in a play about the Tudor martyr for no reason at all. Again, lines were fluffed and rushed through as if Coogan and his four other players couldn't wait for the end. Then it was the end. It was extremely confusing by then.)
tested the patience of the most dedicated fans.
(One heartbroken heckler waiting until a quiet moment to yell "f*cking sh*te, Steve" at the top of his voice as he left. Toecurlingly embarrassing, totally rude, but somehow sadly heartfelt. By this point a notable number of people had walked out.)
By the end of the show, during a number cheerily and liberally throwing about four-letter words with little finesse, four cast members were twirling umbrellas spelling the most taboo in the canon, and it was at that point it really felt as if Coogan was addressing his audience personally.
(He clearly thought we were all c**ts.)
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Vicky Anderson
I totally agree. I have seen Steve Coogan many times live and literally been crying with laughter at his characters, but last night was absolutely awful. The whole thing was a shambles, fluffed lines, under rehearsed, and of course if all else fails, to hide weak material, fall back on the use of foul language for a cheap laugh. It's the end of the road for Coogan's characters. They have served us and him well, but like you mention perhaps film is the direction for him.
I have never lost attention as much as I did last night at a live show. I was totally lost by the time the "play" came on..Was he fluffing his lines on purpose, or had he really messed up, should the props be going wrong?? I really wasn't sure..
The self indulgent finale was pityful, and I think the way Steve reacted to the very loud but very honest heckle showed that even he thought to ask us to pay £30 (£60 for me as I took my wife as part of her birthday present) for that tripe was taking the michael somewhat..Very very disappointed.
Sorry, don't agree. It wasn't brilliant, but it was more entertaining than any other show I've been to this year. Maybe Alan's positive motivational seminar had a big effect on me.
Pauline C – very good. The sound was a bit ropey (but that's not Coogan's fault).
Paul C – very good.
Saxondale – not great, song was good though.
Duncan T – thought he was excellent. Should have been on longer.
Partridge – sensational, but should have been on for twice as long.
The play – badly mis-judged and not very funny at all. Why didn't any of the crew tell him!
Support act – I agree, very poor.
I enjoyed the final song as well. It would have been a nice change to actually have Steve Coogan do a routine as himself.
I hate to say it but i agreed with the heckler, this was a lame performance and i would not bother turning up tonight even if i was offered a free ticket. worse £33 i have ever spent, overall it was a complete flop.
same same nearly £70.00 with surcharge for me and the wife, luckily didn't stay long enough to see finale.Paul Calf wanting to fight students and pulling wheelies on a chopper( Live n' lewd)is funny, singing like tony Ferino thats not right.At least Ferino interjects with the audience (The man who thinks he is it).The annoying fillin bloke who carried the i'm nervous joke on for about 10 minutes too long (nonsense).Enjoyed Partridge should have been longer. And something I can't blame Coogan for the acoustics in the arena were terrible I could hear a delay behind me the whole way through and it drove me mad. As other bloke said would not go tonight with a free ticket.
It will be interesting to see what people think of tonight's show, If it's anything like last nights miserable performance, i say stay well clear. To put it bluntly id rather jump on pug sockets with angry wasps in my mouth than sit through that dross again. COME ON STEVE YOUR BETTER THAN THAT. Also £8 for a paper thin program, that struggled to make sense... Where did it all go wrong?
I think the review was polite. 30 quid for a show that looked like it had been written on a fag packet on the way to the show. Come of it Coogan you are better than this, and so are the people who turned up to watch.
A bloke leaving summed it up for me "that's two hours of my life I wont be getting back" and to be honest you wouldn't want them back to sit through that.
Can anyone tell me what the hell that Thomas Moore play was about - I was totally bored.
Now that he is coining in the Yankee Dollar we get that underperformed dross. Somones reputation is shot to shreds after that nonsense last night.
Totally agree, paid for the tickets for my boyfriends birthday and as big Alan Partridge fans we really thought we would be in for a fun night full of laughs.Well, laugh we did, about twice throughout the whole night!! Was it worth £70? Erm No! Steve seemed to be under rehearsed and didnt seem to care about the delivery of the performance, it was 'padded' with poor material. He should have just stuck on and old Partridge episode on a big screen (if there had been one) ..oh and as for the people standing to applaude him--What show were you watching?
the best part of the night for me was getting out of that car park so quickly. very poor show steve !!
I have to disagree with Phil Leacher's complaint about the programme... I actually thought it was excellent value, a really well printed programme AND 5 xmas cards AND a 2009 calendar (They cost £12 on their own from most stationary shops).
And I really don't think the show was THAT bad... sure I've seen better comedy shows (League of Gentlemen's panto being top of my list) but it was entertaining enough. I just saw it as a live rendition of a TV special.
I went to see Steve Coogan last night, i bought the tickets for my boyfriends birthday as hes a big fan. Personally i havent really seen much of his stuff but thought id give it a go . OH MY GOD!!! Waste of money , i just didnt get it and we left ten mins before the end . Very disopointed!! £30 a ticket & £4.50 booking fee EACH!!!!!
My girlfriend got me tickets as a surprise. I spent the weekend excited, looking forward to seeing my favourite comic - only to be severely let down.
The whole show was a complete shambles and we left feeling thoroughly ripped off. The only way I can reconcile the monetary loss is to think of all the joy watching Partridge has brought over the years.
I got the impression that I was watching a comedian that has lost his passion for comedy, maybe he should stick to more serious roles in future. What the Sir Thomas Moore sketch was about - I've no idea. It was atrocious. I left before the end and needless to say I won't be going near another of his live shows. I will stick a bit of Live'n'Lewd or Partridge on though to remember the good days!
Just left the Echo Arena and feel that we've been fleeced. One of the UK's most successful character comedians giving a performance that smacked of a hungover improv not worthy of back street Edinboro' fringe.
It appears that some of the heavily criticised scenees were omitted (Sir Thomas More). Just wish he'd left more out and rehearsed the better stuff.
By the end of the tour he'll be left with just Alan Partridge - the only character who remotely raised a laugh.
Overpriced, under-prepared, under-rehearesed, badly written, badly performed.
Not rip roaring... just a rip off.
As Steve would say he was C.riminally U.nderprepared N.ot T.itillating
Well what can i add thats not already been said!!!!! What a truley dreadful show after ordering my tickets months ago and waiting with antisipation for the night to arrive i now wish i has stayed at home trimming my toe nails!!!! Steve i hope you are reading these reviews & smarten your act for the rest of the tour!
Del
It was very poor and i was very deflated after it as this is the first time ive seen him live. I went last night 14/10 and I dont think he even did the Thomas Moore thing? He did partridge and then straight into the C**t number....did he miss it out ??
Partridge was actually ok but it just didnt look like he enjoyed it atall. His reaction at the end said it all and he got off stage as quick as poss!!
Back to enjoying Alan P, Saxondale and his movie appearances for me!
addition to my last post. Steve at least must have seen the error of his ways & removed the Sir Thomas Moor sketch from Mondays show & by previous reviews thank god!
What a woeful , underehearsed , poorly scripted fiasco . The foul mouthed barracking pair in the audience were sat 2 rows behind me and whilst one couldnt condone the interuption , you agreed totally with their frustration . About 5 mins of `Partridge ` was really funny , a return to form but the rest of the show was unfunny and gross . ( he`s taking his cue from Little Britain USA maybe ? ) There were 6 in our party , 180 quid the poorer and barely a smile between us .
A very poor show by Mr Coogan, although I have to admit I did laugh out loud on a couple of occasions but that was only at the heckler at the back of the arena. Well done that man! I think he was only vocalising what everybody else was actually thinking.
I'm sorry I didn't read the reviews from the previous tour dates before wasting 2 hours sat watching that utter rubbish.
I've seen Steve Coogan live at the Empire, several years ago and I cried laughing. £30 on what I can only describe as an appalling performance. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!
The last song and dance routine totally summed it up for me, were he sang "I'm a C**t" Need I say anymore!
Bag a sh*te!
I saw him at the echo arena last night, and he was brilliant. He had cut the thomas more spot, and the crowd loved the rest of the show. I was really dreading the show after reading your review, but last night was brilliant. Partridge at his best, and Id forgotten just how funny Paul Calf is.The support act was also very good, especially the two singers! Money well spent, and my only criticism would be the acoustics of the poorly designed echo arena.
four of us went expecting a brilliant night, what a let down! complete rubbish and a waste of money. Cougan was right with one thing we were the soft c###ts and he is a robbing c##t.
I attended the show on the 12/10/08 I payed £30 + £4.50 booking fee. Steve came on stage 30 minutes late, started at 8 & stayed on stage until 10pm with a 30 minute interval in between, to my estimations the total show works out at about 38p a minute. Steve if your reading this can you give my £34.50 to charity because ive had more fun filling my car up........ utterly disappointed.
The only joker on here is Steve webb I attended the show last night and it was absolutely terrible, I suppose you thought the over priced beverages were funny as well. You should go into comedy Steve.
As fans of Steve Coogan from his early days on the radio, I unfortunately have to agree with most of the comments posted so far.
He was so absolutely awful that we deceided to cut our losses and leave before the interval.
We have never walked out, before the end, of any performance of anything anywhere,including watching Liverpool lose at home to Grimsby a few years back;- at least they were still trying!
Good luck to anyone who has brought tickets for the rest of the tour.
Not every minute was dreadful. Pauline Calf’s book was funny. The start of Alan Partridge was great, as was the computer glove bit. I even quite liked the closing song (although I have to say that my wife hated it with a passion). But that’s not a lot for £67, particularly when just about everything else is not merely poor, but horrendously, hideously bad.
The Thomas More play didn’t put in an appearance at all last night. The idea that it was evidently considered worse than some of what survived in the show is truly jaw-dropping. Worse than Duncan Thicket? Worse than “comedy stutter man”? Dear Lord, but it must have been bad.
This was my birthday present to my wife. At least it was her who chose what to go and see. If this had been my choice, I’d still be making it up to her this time next year.
Well I went last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, the interim acts were very poor and some gags didn't work, but I was laughing throughout. Only spoilt for me by a couple of idiots shouting out, if only they could handle their ale...
Support actors material was not good but now let's be fair. Steve Coogan is a comedy genius and his Alan Partridge was both clever and very funny but the whole show just didn't work in such a large venue. Not even any large screens so that the people up in the God's (me)could see what was going on. The audience need to see the charactor's face otherwise we might as well listen to a radio recoring. Put the show in a more intimate environment like the Liverpool Empire and the whole dynamics of his performance would have changed. Steve, take a leaf out of Ricky Gervais's book and keep it simple, do what you do best and don't be greedy trying to please 5,000 people at £30 a pop when a smaller audience of die hard fans would have appreciated the show more and probably would have paid more. "Less is More"
Steve Coogan should seriously think twice before doing another tour because I cant see him selling any tickets at all. If you have tickets to a future show, give them to someone you dont like and go for a meal instead. Thank god we seen Michael McIntyre the following night who was sidesplitting. He looked as though he thoroughly enjoyed himself and totally engaged with the audience, an amazing night. Steve coogan just made a c--- of himself.
Is Steve Webb serious??? The crown did not love the rest of the show and only clapped loudly to try to drown out the loud mouthed, but exceptionally astute barracking he deserved.
I have to agree with everything that everyone else has said. This was not just bad, it was embarrassingly bad. I was worried when I could see him reading the script that was obviously written on "Pauline's" palm. Although presumably this is how he wrote most of the show.
Partridge is a legend, and will always be a legend but Coogan went a long way to ruining even that character for me last night. The 15 or so minutes of AP were the highlight, but everything else was just woefull.
He clearly is more interested in making money than providing good entertainment.
Mr Coogan you should be ashamed of yourself, I'm sure your new fans in the USA would be shocked if they knew what tripe you churned out last night.
From now on, whenever I hear the word C**T I'll think of you.
GUTTED
Utter dissapointment.
First half of the show was awful. Night was 'saved' (so to speak) by Partidge, who was WAY below par.
Funniest bit of the performance (had nothing to do with Coogan) was the Devil / Angel argument scene.
Complete waste of money. Would have much rather paid half the money and gone the comedy club. Cheers Steve.
I saw last night's performance (13th October) and dismal isn't the word. It was just awful. As someone has pointed out before, the lack of screens meant that it was near impossible to pick up any mannerisms or expressions that add depth to a performance. Fine in a small theatre, but in a space like the Echo Arena it just felt like a production cutting corners for a greater return. I spent most of the night squinting and I had decent seats, so the poor sods in the gods must have felt pretty isolated.
As I was once tragically obsessed with 'The Man Who Thinks He's It', the repetition annoyed me. The Pauline Calf sketch was a shoddy photocopy of his last live tour - i.e. a few jokes, ditzy unattractive friend/woman comes on stage, Pauline reads from her new book. Duncan Thickett with his same jokes and weird alter ego (just much less funny this time around). Paul Calf slightly tweaked to become reincarnated as Tony Ferrino (with the bafflingly cheap shots at gypsies - surely your material is a bit more sophisticated that that, Steve?).
His last live tour featured the supporting acts of Julia Davies and Simon Pegg so I was expecting great things when Coogan was getting changed, but the two supporting actors starred in sketches that wouldn't make the cut for a BBC3 pilot.
The show had a fair bit of heckling throughout - at first it annoyed the hell out of me, by the end I felt relieved that at least one of us had had the guts to speak up. It was under rehearsed (writing on his hand?!), badly written and cripplingly embarrassing from start to finish. Me and my boyfriend travelled up from London and spent the best part of £70 on tickets to see him and I felt cheated. I read that Coogan decided to do another tour to see if he could make 2,000 people laugh for two hours consistently every night - I think from last night's show he's proved he really shouldn't have bothered.
I went to Liverpool Echo Arena on Monday 12th to see Steve Coogan and I have to say before this show I held him in such high esteam. This show was very poor indeed, very unprofessional and clearly not rehearsed. It was riddled with errors; missed ques, forgotten lines and there where several technical faults which just added even more to an allround poor production.
To be honest I am struggling to take any positives at all from the show and think i must of laughed about twice. One of those being before the show actually started when people where shouting "DAN!!".
The filler acts in between character changes where terrible and are what only can be described as "AM DRAM". They appeared to be performed by amatuer performs and could be liked to improvisations you'd see in a GCSE drama lesson. One act inparticular was extremely cringe worthy where one of the support actors tried to mimic a stutterer. This was funny for about the first 20seconds but the man dragged it out to about five minutes and was just very silly. I really felt emabarresed for him. How Coogan, a man with such a comedy pedigree can have acts like this in his show is totally beyond me. I mean Coogan surely can't think that was funny? - Clearly he does, and as the show went on towards the interval the performances just got worst. Was really disapointing.
I was out in the tea-bar at the interval and lots of people where already heading for the exit and I have to say I now wish I was one of them. I did however not leave as I had higher expectations for the second part of the show and expected AP to more than make up for the terrible first half performance.
However I was gravely mistaken. Dont get me wrong, It started well with some trademark Partridge, "AHA" when he came onto the stage and did an interview which I have to say did have its moments. But from here on in it went rapidly downhill. He went onto do a tutor style play about Thomas Moore and Henry VIII which was more like a pantomine than the work of a man who created such legendary cult comedy characters. The crowd lost interest in it very quickly and at this point more people could be seen heading for the door and some people started heckling. I have read however he did not do this part of the show the second night.
I went with my friends whom have had seen very little of Coogans previous work and I assured them it would hilarous. I was left feeling rather embarresed. I am a massive fan of Coogans TV work, such as Alan Partridge, but this was terrible. For a man of such talent to produce such a poor live show and charge people £34 to watch it is an absolute disgrace. I would rather of just stayed in and watched Alan Partidge on DVD.
Im not sure whether the characters we all know and love on the small screen do translate properly onto a live show and perhaps expectations where set high and Steve unfortunatly did not deliver.
To be honest the show was a big expencive disappointment. A rip-off. I was sitting next a man who was heckling Steve and I have to admit he was not wrong to do so. For the price paid im suprised there was not more people having a go.
I would rather of stayed in and watched Alan Partidge on DVD.
The funniest thing about the show was the price of the tickets and the drinks. What a joke!!
I will get straight to the point. Steve you were about as funny as the Plague last night.
Monkey tennis?
If anyone has seen Ricky Gervais play the character Andy Millman in his TV series Extras. This is the only way i can some it up... He sold his soul for a shot at fame, Catchphrase and wig and the jokes are lame, He's got no style, he's got no grace,
He's banal and facile, he was a waste of space.
I am so frustrated at last nights performance, I would have left early if it wasn't for the fact i was getting picked up at 11pm, Does anybody know away of getting your money back on this? I wouldn't mind but id save up for ages to go and see my comedy hero and I looked forward to it for months I even travel up from Derby, the whole event has left me feeling sad and deflated. If anybody is going to see him later on in the year i hope to god he is funny than last night because ive laughed more watching you've been framed. Christopher Biggins would have been funnier (Now that is saying something) he was more 'Argh!' than 'Aha'".
I saw the show on Sunday after looking forward to it for months....... alll I can say is I'm glad he took the Thomas Moore section out for last night's show! It was like watching a play they used to force you to sit through at school! Wierd!
Still totally gutted! Steve Coogan thought he could come to Liverpool and and practise on us. Insulting
AP still a legend! (on DVD)
I really enjoyed the show, 10th Oct in Blackburn. There was just one line that was forgotten, and most of the Thomas Moore stuff didn't work for me, but overall, I found it hilarious, laughed all the way through, and the closing song was fantastic.
I saw Steve Coogan's show, Alan Partridge and less successful characters, at the Liverpool Arena on Sunday 12th October. I had been looking forward to the show for some weeks and, like most other people there, the return of our 'hero', Alan Partridge himself. It was therefore very disappointing to find that the show lacked anywhere near the impact the TV shows that made him a household name.
Steve did his own warm-up in the first half of the show, with Pauline Calf, Saxondale, Duncan Thickett and Paul Calf doing a turn and a crowd who had come to be entertained were generous to what was really a tepid first half. Unfortunately, the expected reward for their generosity did not arrive, as the second half, fully devoted to Alan Partridge, failed by a long way to live up to expectations. The script was generally unfunny, with only the occasional Partridge-ism thrown in and a large portion of the section was given over to a play written by & starring Alan, about Thomas More. It felt like a school play, failing dismally to raise any laughs. Many members of the audience were leaving before the end and, amongst the shouts from them as they left, perhaps 'Seeya Steve, try to be funny next time' was the most appropriate.
Add to the lack of comedy in this comedy show the fact that the star was extremely under-rehearsed, regularly referring to prompt cards for his lines, and the whole event was a massive disappointment.
It may well be that the Partridge TV show formats do not lend themselves to the stage well, though I think I am clutching at straws. If you were thinking of spending £30-£40 on this, I'd suggest you think again and buy an Alan Partridge DVD.
Leave it out
i went to see steve coogan ( the musical ) and it was absolutly awful. i feel cheated that such a high profile comedian could rip his fans off so badly.we all paid £33 pound to sit in the heavens it was a disgrace and i was tempted to leave at the mid way interval but decided to give alan partridge a chance to redeem such a terrible stand up, this however wasnt 2 be. the funniest part of the night was the hecklers letting Coogan no how bad he was and they wer shouting out for free and not £33. and the singing at the end just rounded up a pathetic performance wer he had to say the word c##t for around 15mins. well am afraid to say that the only c##t in the areana was steve coogam himself. AAHAARR
Ashley Cole would get a better reception!
Sorry Mr farmery, I couldn't comment on the price of the beverages, because I wasn't drinking. Perhaps that in some way impaired your viewing of the show?
I recently went to see Leonard Cohen in concert and I have to say "Leonard was funnier!"
Now I have definitely got more cows than you have got friends !!!!
Perhaps I'm too loyal a fan, but I'm adding my tu'pence worth here after reading negative comment after negative comment.
Material highlights for me:
"Bound, burgled and buggered...I know the feeling, that's how I felt when my mortgage application was turned down by Bradford and Bingley...it was as if they were taking turns."
"The universe is f**king massive...."
"Natasha Kaplinski...Face of Five? I've got five for her f**king face."
Some corking stuff in the show which, admittedly, Steve should've known without having to refer to his hand. But he wasn't CONSTANTLY doing so. It was under rehearsed and it showed. I can see why there's some frustration. But I say give the c**t a break! ;) It's been 10 years since he last toured and I'm delighted he's touring again so I've had the chance to see him perform in the flesh. He's one of my comedy idols and will remain so.
My main criticism would be that he should've done Tony Ferrino and perhaps left Thicket out instead.
There were some very big laughs in the show that people seem to be ignoring entirely to suit their bitter rants about paying £35 for their ticket. To pay that much and leave the show half way through just proves the content of the finale song.
I think the venue is the cause of several problems. One - I think arena gigs simply don't generate the atmosphere needed for comedy. In an arena you feel detatched from the stage, the performers and all those around you. Eddie Izzard suffered at the MEN when I saw him a few years back. Now, I wasn't there to witness Mighty Boosh's tour last night, but I resent the comparisons to Coogan's show throughout their stonking review. We'll see how Julian and Noel are doing if they are still performing the same characters in 10 years' time.
Finally, I think the Echo arena acoustics are extremely poor. The sound system completely failed Steve on Sunday night!
My enjoyment was hindered by the hecklers. Instead of concentrating on the subtle gags in the Sir Thomas More play ("I'm Roger Moore..." - a reference for any Knowing Me Knowing You fans!) I honestly felt ashamed.
The filler sketches during Steve's costume changes were extremely bad, I do agree on that score. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think you're all overly harsh.
I went on Sunday night & was dying to enjoy it. Everything before Alan Partridge was average, however when Alan came bounding onto the stage singing 'Don't stop me now', sponsored by Whiskas, with flash bombs not quiet working in his new guise as a Motivational Speaker, I couldn't stop laughing.
The guy in the crowd who shouted abuse spoilt it for me, if you are going to criticise atleast have some wit.
The play was poor & self-indulgent on Coogan's behalf, but was it not a self fulfilling prophecy? Alan has been told he couldn't write, direct and perform his own play about Sir Thomas Moore, well whoever told Alan this was right, it bombed and was pulled the next night. Is this the start of the next Partridge depression? You couldn't get a Toblerone anywhere in Liverpool on Sunday night...
I went to the opening night in Stoke. If you think it was bad in liverpool, you should've seen the shambles there. He forgot lines, the support act were really rubbish, what was that screeching song all about??? Back to coogan, it was un-rehearsed and not even funny - during the show we started watching the champions league on my mates phone.
That play was awful - why was he doing it? it didn't make any sense and was not funny at all.
He should have used Tony Ferrino as he made all his characters sing, if he wanted to do a concert, i'd have preferrred to have seen "ordinary girl" or "lap dancing lady".
I only laughed at some parts of AP, Pauline & Paul Calf.
Only positive, was that one of the support acts was quite fit.
Still love ya coogan, but please re-write the show and make the last part of the tour good.
I agree with all the negative comments. The show was rubbish and I can beat most people for being ripped off. I paid DOUBLE the price on ebay for front row tickets. More fool me. I wish I'd had a crystal ball. As we walked home through Albert Dock, I wished we had gone for a meal instead or gone to the cinema or stayed at home. I have always loved Steve Coogan, however we hardly raised a smile throughout the show. Funnily enough I am quite enjoying his performance in 'Sunshine' on TV. Wish we could get a refund - such a waste of money.
(I posted this on my local newspaper review the day after i saw the first tour date in Stoke. I've edited parts to make sense but wanted to add my review). Here it is.
AWFUL. JUST AWFUL.
It started off badly and then got worse. I was embarrassed for myself, my friend who i went with and for Coogan himself. Never meet your idols and all that. Been looking forward to this for months as well.
£70 was a joke for what it was. I expect when paying £70 that he knows his lines, that the props work and that more importantly it is funny. (The props bit was the Hitler joke and it was funny because it did not work as the tash fell off). It annoys me people say it was the first show it will get better. He might learn his lines by then but i've not paid £70 to watch someone rehearse. Also i think if he does another 100 shows perfectly it will still not make it funny. I don't think i laughed once. We (Stoke) were far too polite.
EDIT: Well it would see that quite a few shows in and nothing has got better.
It was all so old and amateurish. Like Butlines or a school play. The sneezing in to something and getting the Hitler tash is something i'd expect to see from a 10 year old doing a magic trick. It's not new. Nothing flowed. There was no theme. It was all broken up. The interlude acts were appauling. Coogan was even worse than them.
First half was just not funny. Was lame. Awful. That Duncan Thickett sketch was perhaps the worst thing i've ever seen.
EDIT: Why have more people not siad how **** this was or wsa it so rubbish it is not worth a mention?
I noticed a couple of people around me did not stay for the second half. They missed absolutely nothing. Everyone else just looked a little shocked and not knowing what to do. At the end everyone looked bored and most said it was rubbish.
EDIT: Looks like a lot of people have started to do this in the later shows.
We wanted to walk out but also wanted to see Partridge. I should not have bothered because that was funny for 10 seconds when he said A-HA and then was not funny really. If he started with PArtridge and made more of Partridge's interaction with people (which is what makes him funny) then it could have been good.
When it went in to the Thomas More sketch i was actually getting out of my seat it was that bad.
EDIT: Looks like he's dropped this now.
I actually cannot get over just how bad it was.
There was far too much singing. That Gypsy bit was bloody awful. The song at the end (and i love some comedy swearing) was offensive for no reason and was not funny. Singing in general is not funny.
Anyone know if you can get a refund for this show?
Kevin. Still in shock at just how bad it was
Stoke - stop being so polite and say what you really think!
EDIT: Looks like some people in Liverpool did. I don't really condone it as it is really harsh but i think someone has needed to say it and if it makes a difference (and he writes some different bits) then i hope it helps him out.
So to sum up:
It was awful and i'm still shocked.
I still like Coogan and Partridge.
I hope he pulls it around by writing it all again.
SHOCKED.
It’s great to find somewhere to voice opinions on the unbearable dissapointment of this (so called) comedy show.
I saw the show in Derby, and like many have been a lover of all of Steve Coogan’s characters (Think I caught something quite nasty off Pauline) me and my Dad had seats three rows from the front the ideal position.
I like many others did not laugh once, not even a half chuckle if I’m honest. What dissapoints is that there is so much more that can be done with these great creations.
Take Tommy Saxondale his biggest appeal to me is how quickly he is angered by everything around him, during the live show he did not get angry once. Surely a recreation of one of his anger management classes would have been a great addition to his set; instead we had coogan reading all the material off cue cards about how drugs change people. Saxondale however thinks kids should be taking drugs he tells us, so what was the point?
Duncan Thicket who is supposed to be incredibily nervous about performing had so much confidence at our show, Paul Calf obviously has a secret love of musical theatre and dancing around not something I would have expected, perhaps Coogan has forgotten what made these characters so likeable in the first place.
The point about being under-rehearsed seems to be correct. I read an interview where Coogan said about a bad review “I’d had to nip off in the middle of rehearsals to do Night At The Museum 2 with Owen Wilson in Canada. It was a bit of a nightmare to be honest, getting back in time, but we did it”. Is that a good enough excuse?
Perhaps he has been caught with too many jobs on his plate and not enough time juggling a successful Hollywood career with writing and reharsing a two hour show. I saw an interview a few years back that said all live material is tested on a small audience before taken out on tour was this the case for this tour or are well all a test audience?
Never Again
Echo Arena...far too big for this show, there were'nt even any screens for people at the back to see his expressions, the acoustics were rubbish the echo arena actually echoed ( no joke intended) the in between acts were toss Partridge was good, not great, and where was the blazer? not a big deal but yeah.
trying to get as much money as possible by using a giant arena, might have worked in a smaller venue.
I wonder why no one shouted out give me my "cash back"?
Me and my mate travelled up from worcester to see Coogan. £33 each, £30 petrol, £30 for a room, and what happened? We were 'treated' to on of the more forgettable shows I have seen in a long time. I can't tell you how much I had looked forward to see my comedy idol, Alan Patridge, live onstage. In fact, the only way I can sum up my excitement is to compare it to the eventual disappointment.
Others have reviewed the first half ('lamentable' is a good word), but we were there to see Alan. And what struck me at the time, and has stayed with me, is that quite often I was laughing heartily, but i didn't find it funny.
It was so sad to find myself laughing because I felt like I should be, but the truth is, it was a big let-down. AP started well and with the opening video montage of Alan's Forward Solutions, followed by a large "A-HA!", i really thought that the comedy had arrived, after the interminable dirge of the first half and the support cast. But the laughs soon tailed off for Partridge as well, and I became painfully aware of the heckling shortly after AP's exit. What was he on for, 20 minutes?!?
I paid £33 for this show, plus expenses. For An Evening with Alan, and no other characters, written to the standard of the TV series', I would have paid £133. Sadly, the standard was nowhere near the TV show. Indeed, the heckling summed it up. And the less said about the closing song, the better. If you are reading this, and have tickets for a future show, i pray that Steve Coogan has also read this, and will make improvements. An utterly deflating occasion that promised so much, from a man who can do so much better.
P.S. Big screens would help those of us in the nosebleeds who also paid top dollar.
P.S.
I'm a big fan of Steve Coogan and watched the show in Norwich last night. It was utter rubbish.
Alan Partridge hardly even mentioned Norwich yet he was playing in Norwich where the character is based.
Oh, and he did the terrible Thomas Moore sketch which had been dropped from previous shows.
Steve Coogan should stop the tour and only do it when he has a good show to tour.
The script on this tour absolutely stinks to high heaven. It is hard to believe that Coogan has sunk so low.
Add to that, Coogan seems to have forgotten what made these characters so likeable in the first place.
It is like watching a really bad under-rehearsed badly written holiday camp show.
Coogan is selling these great character creations short, and by doing so he is selling the paying public short.
youth hosteling with Chris Eubank sounds more fun! wat about monkey tennis , i have 2 tickets for his Blackpool show ! any offers ? I will start the bidding at 1 pound
smell my cheese
I saw the show last night(29th oct)in birmingham and thought it was excellent.
Some people only get the obvious jokes i guess.
People saying he forgot his lines during the thomas moore part-- its alan ppartridge trying to put on a show and forgetting them you fools, not coogan.
You obviously dont get his character correctly if you cant see how funny it is.
Stick tothe videos.