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 |  | Ross Noble at The Swan, reviewed by site user Paul Bradley
Ross Noble's build up-on the screen at the back of the stage was unreal. Parodying numerous films it informed us that Ross was abandoned as a baby and brought up by a group of tree dwellers.
As a young adult he fell into a pond of radioactive material, giving him super powers and unbeatable Kung Fu abilities. This, however, didn't stop him from being run over by a car, prior to being rebuilt with spare parts from a fridge.
What on earth we were to expect as he came on stage? Well, the renowned Geordie came on as himself and immediately proceeded with his inquisitive banter.
Although a little slow to get going, he competently avoided any script and interacted with the crowd, joking with them about their professions. He most notably bantered with a canal barge carpenter and a motorbike technician and questioned the merits and coolness of such modes of transport, or lack of it in the case of the barge.
 Ross Noble easily surpassed my initial high expectations, with his natural ability to find humour in anything and anyone.
 | Μύ | Paul Bradley
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Ross carried off this ad-lib formula extremely well, often digressing into new areas of humour and parody. He'd digress so often he kept asking: "What was I talking about?"
He was straight on the crowd's case almost without exception. He referred to numerous films and TV shows and made light of the fact that he had lots of time to watch TV.
He teased the crowd, calling them posh for coming from Stratford, and saying they were more likely to watch Shakespeare than Predator or Rosie and Jim. The latter brought him back to canal barges - one of a multitude of cross-references he executed with style.
The second-half of the performance was a little more scheduled as he entered into the topic most comedians find it difficult to avoid commenting on, the potential war with Iraq.
In his usual fashion he called George Bush a name which cannot be published here, to which the crowd applauded. Ross replied, "I'm not Ben Elton. Applaud when I say something funny not when I make a point!" He explained he was experiencing a real dilemma as to whether we ought to go to war with Iraq or not: "I'm a real pacifist but I just love big explosions!"
Ross Noble easily surpassed my initial high expectations, with his natural ability to find humour in anything and anyone.
Week with Laughter
Stratford's Week with Laughter season featured top acts Mark Thomas, Rhona Cameron, Ed Byrne, Richard Herring, Ross Noble, Daniel Kitson and The Comedy Store Players appearing at The Swan.
Find out more about the shows by following the Comedy Season link and the RSC's Week With Laughter link, both on the left.
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