FOR a man who has recently undergone a triple heart bypass operation, Bob Mortimer performed with remarkable energy as he and comedy partner Vic Reeves retuned to the Newcastle stage this week.
Regularly checking a miniature wrist monitor during the vigorous two hour show, Bob's heart rate appeared to remain reassuringly out of the danger zone throughout and the Middlesbrough funnyman punched the air as he emerged unscathed.
Well almost unscathed. He did suffer a fall, slightly injuring his paella (or was it his nutella?), meaning Vic had to telephone Bob's mother and arrange for her to bring a plaster - a Disney one with the lyrics to a song from Frozen written on it - from Yates's Wine Lodge for her son's wound. Something like that.
That surreal exchange was typical of the madcap banter between the on-form duo who seemed to entertain each other as much as the audience, not least when performing as Shildon brothers Donald and Davy Stott which had Bob collapsing into a heap of laughter.
The Stott brothers (catchphrase: stop starting and start stopping) were among a host of old favourites revived for the tour, including The Man With the Stick, Judge Nutmeg, Chris and Carl Palmer, and Mulligan and O'Hare - Mulligan complete with new boobs.
Bob's dancing was excellent, the pair belted out some cracking tunes (eg. Lucky Carpet, Henry VIII Was Capable Of Flight) and the show was packed full of daft comedy props and cracking gags.
It was silly, childish, baffling, nonsensical, preposterous - and completely hilarious.
Andrew White
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