Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 44
Billy Connolly: It's Been A Pleasure review
Yes, at 78, he won't be on stage and more, and yes, there were a few emotional minutes at the end where that loss was noted - with Connolly especially touched when the tributes were shown to him.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th December 2020Review: Death To 2020
It fast became a cliché to say that the spiralling dystopia of 2020 was like an out-of-control episode of Black Mirror. So it was probably inevitable that Charlie Brooker would be called upon to offer a satirical summary of the momentously awful 12 months, especially given his track record with the Wipe series for the BBC. The result is a wry, often bleakly amusing look at the year, albeit without the astringent personal bite Brooker normally brings to his year-end round-ups.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 27th December 2020Review: The Comeback
No sooner has The Comeback hit the West End stage than it will be forced to close, as London goes into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions from Wednesday.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th December 2020Review: The Future Of Politics by Frankie Boyle
The Future Of Politics might not be the grand essay of our age, but for just a few quid it provides a welcome cathartic, jet-black laugh at the ruling elite - as if there is anything elite about them - very much in the vein of his stand-up, or New World Order TV show.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 9th December 2020The Vicar Of Dibley In Lockdown review
For even in these bite-sized samples, The Vicar of Dibley is a sweet, warm-hearted comedy, living up to Geraldine's stated sentiments to "be gentle and kind... and appreciate every God-given day". But it's a short step to being twee, even trite, which the mild, only fitfully funny, script doesn't always avoid. The slightness of the format and the near absence of a supporting cast only emphasise these shortcomings.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th December 2020The Problem With Men, by Richard Herring review
Anyone who's been on Twitter on March 8 will know the Sisyphean task Richard Herring has taken on in doing fighting trollery with trollery.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 24th November 2020Geoff Norcott donates to charity after losing bet
"£1,000 to charity if anyone can dig out a Jim Davidson routine about politics," he tweeted. "I must've missed the bit on Big Break where him and John Virgo were digging out the unions." But Chortle editor Steve Bennett quickly quoted Davidson's 2003 stand-up special Vote For Jim, which contains plenty of political gags, as the title suggests.
Chortle, 20th November 2020Review: The Emily Atack Show
To be truly patronising the following sentence should really have those handclap emojis between each word. Can TV executives stick to giving stand-up shows to actual stand-ups?
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 4th November 2020Review - Daniel Kitson: Dot. Dot. Dot.
As if the world hasn't been knocked off its axis enough this year, here comes another shock... a show from Daniel Kitson that's - whisper it - not a must-see.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd November 2020Howerd's End review
Frankie Howerd may be the headline draw, but it's his long-term partner Dennis Heymer who finally gets his story told in this new play about their lopsided relationship. But no one would go to a show with his name in the title, which is very much the point.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 30th October 2020