Review: LEIGH FRANCIS PRESENTS: MY FIRST TIME, UK Tour
In his first ever live tour, Leigh Francis presents My First Time. Appearing initially as himself, Francis takes us on a nostalgia packed parade of his back catalogue of alter egos: Avid Merrion, Keith Lemon, Urban Fox and Bear all make an appearance.
As Francis fans will fully expect, the show is packed to the brim with toilet humour and crass one liners, with a mix of on stage skits and pre recorded sketches, the short and snappy routines help the show feel fast paced and full.
The rubber faced characters made famous by Bo Selecta make up a large portion of the show. We see Francis, with the help of Jess Robinson and Adam C Booth, impersonate a plethora of well known celebs. The highlights being the Gogglebox regulars and Ant and Dec (Booth’s Dec is sometimes so on the nose you forget that it’s not actually him). Robinson and Booth really elevate the show and Robinson’s medley of singing impressions is a highlight. All three have superb comic timing, with the sketches raising most laughs those which capture the quirks of other celebs (James Corden’s faux over exuberance and David Dickinson’s strutting both hysterically accurate). Francis is an expert at observational comedy and mastering the physicality of his subjects. At the other end of the funny scale we have Amanda Holden’s grandma Myrtle, with Francis resorting to slapstick and physical comedy to elicit laughs.
Francis is at his best when being daft and rude. Many of the jokes appear to be included for the shock factor, but as we’ve seen them before, a talking poo and an easily aroused bear lack the punch required to surprise the audience and can feel gratuitous.
Fans of Francis will enjoy this raucous, silly romp through his most beloved characters, but this is not the show for you if one penis joke is one too many.
*** Three Stars
Reviewed by Cara Brazier