Steve Best
12 September 1999
Comedy is not an easy thing to describe, but when one is faced with a comedian like Steve Best, the task is all but impossible. Steve’s act is an insane mixture of slapstick, magic, music, infantile one liners and surrealism that had the Comedy Cavern in stitches on Sunday night.
‘See if you think this is immature,’ was a recurring catchphrase that he would mutter while swallowing a balloon, hitting himself with the microphone or perform some other outrageous feat. It’s not easy to go so far over the top and yet remain in control, but Steve carried off this balancing act with manic aplomb.
The first act of the night was Jonathan Young, a likable comedian from Bermuda with a Chandleresque sense of humour. (That’s the Chandler from the sitcom ‘Friends,’ not the creator of Philip Marlowe.)
Between the two scheduled acts was a short set by Jimmy Carr, a young comedian with a determinedly middle class persona who shows a great deal of promise. ‘I went to the sale at Waterstones the other day and they had a third off all titles,’ he related with a cool detachment. ‘I bought ‘The Lion, the Witch…’ Jimmy recently reached the finals of Channel 4’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny,’ and he’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
Matthew Zuckerman