NOT long after Hal took to the stage, I found myself mentally recasting Notting Hill with him as Julia Roberts and me as Hugh Grant.
No, please, bear with me.
I was thinking in particular of the scene at the press conference when the aforementioned Shuggie explains to Ms Roberts that he had been foolish to have turned down her offer of romance.
Because, having interviewed Hal twice before but never having seen him perform, I was struck by the fact that he is the equivalent to that Hollywood star and I am, undeniably, Grant’s “daft prick”.
This was one of the funniest hours I’ve seen in years and demonstrated that Hal is a master of his stand-up craft.
I’ve no doubt this show is finely-crafted and took hours of work but he makes being on stage, making another full house fall about look utterly effortless.
The way he worked the front row was peerless – I warn you, don’t go there for a Hal show – and I felt particularly sorry for the young man who was there with his female flatmate and Hal created an entire humiliating relationship for them with the chap as a scorned-but-hopeful creep.
This might not sound like Hal who has the most likeable demeanour of anyone I’ve ever met but as he admits at the beginning, the show is about him being surprisingly unpleasant in real life.
And he does say some stunningly awful things, especially about the older members of the audience, but every bitchy comment – and there are a LOT – is accompanied by a cheeky grin or a self-deprecating comment which only makes us love him more.
Cruttenden acknowledges the show is “the second one about my divorce” and his theory that he may have inadvertently put the idea in his now ex-wife’s head is a highlight.
As he admits, “I think women use me as a break between real men.”
So, if you’re ready to hear why he’d welcome a US Presidential ticket featuring Kevin Spacey with P.Diddy as his running-mate, get yourself along to the Pleasance but be quick, I have a shrewd idea this show will be another sell-out.
Hal Cruttenden: Can Dish It Out But Can’t Take, 21.30, Pleasance Courtyard – Cabaret Bar, Until August 24 (not 12th).
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/hal-cruttenden-can-dish-it-out-but-can-t-take-it
