Different Class
WORDS: Anisa Sheikh (Sprout Editorial Group)
With side-splitting laughter throughout the entire show, it's safe to say that Ed Byrne's spring tour, Different Class (the promotional artwork for which cheekily lampoons Pulp's seminal album artwork) is becoming one of his most loved shows yet.
We learn about the stand-up comedian as a person as he talks about personal issues such as his recent wedding, his position in the 'are you famous or obscure' line, how funny his new wife is, and much more.
At the start, Ed talks about the layout of the show: "I'm going to talk to you for a bit, then we'll have an interval for about 20 minutes, then I'll talk to you again, then another interval that will last for about two years".
I found it very amusing when I was standing by the bar in the interval overhearing a girl on the phone who hadn't quite got the joke and said, "Yeah, there's going to be another interval soon".
The show is very much linked to the title as he expands on the issues of middle and working class and comes out with some good lines such as, "Pheasant is posh..." (muses for a second) "... even if you eat it with alphabetti spaghetti".
One of the topics in this show that received lots of cheers, laughter and clapping was about his wedding and the planning of it. For instance: "The thing I love about being married is that I don't have to plan another wedding".
And, "You learn that when you are planning a wedding, you start arguing about things that you just don't give a s**t about".
Towards the end of the show Ed talked more about his new wife: "Imagine how you would be if the person you wanted to marry said, 'No (starts to cry), I can't marry you' then all of a sudden says "only joking!"
Another line about his wife: "We were on the couch watching TV, she was lying down, head on my lap, facing me -she's not perfect - then she looked at me and said, 'Give me a kiss', to which I said, 'Okay'."
We then see Ed imitating the situation of him struggling to give his wife a kiss: "Very funny, if I could do that there wouldn't be any need to have someone else".
Overall, Different Class is a very enjoyable, funny and understandable show for people of all ages.
It is guaranteed to get you talking about it to friends and family after. A very good night out and a good recommendation for all comedy lovers.
You can catch Ed when he returns to Wales with the tour at Brecon's Theatr Brycheiniog on Wednesday 18 March, Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Wednesday 1 April and Porthcawl Grand Pavilion on Thursday 2 April.
