Drugs often feature in comedian’s routine. In fact, you are quite lucky today if you don’t hear someone harping on about any range of soft and party drugs, but what about heroin? Is smack funny? One would tend to think not, but when put in the hands of Mike Gunn (not literally, as that would be a bit cruel) it can be hilarious.
It is important to say from the start that Mike Gunn isn’t doing a stand up show this year. He is doing comedy, but if you are expecting to see the sort of stuff he does on The Comedy Store you’re going to be severely disappointed. Uncut is Gunn’s personal story of his descent into heroin addiction and his battle out the other side.
While essentially an education more than out and out comedy, Gunn’s tale is gilded with hilarious anecdotes, magical observations and an obsession with squirrels. Precise, witty and, above all, engrossing, Uncut is the sort of show everyone should go and see every once in a while, if not as a warning then as an learning experience.
Gunn himself seems slightly on guard, which is no surprise given the personal nature of the material, but manages to captivate the crowd with his sparkling personality and congenial banter. Some of the imagery he conjures up isn’t pretty, but you really should be expecting that when you buy your ticket.
Uncut is the sort of frank, honest show rarely seen on the comedy circuit, and won’t be to most tastes, but if you are fed up of the banal, flippant and simply boring check him out for a healthy dose of reality.
4/5
Richard Biggs
