NB: This show is a work in progress for Kumar’s new tour which begins at the start of September. To that end it feels complete, though of course it would be disingenuous to see this blog as a reflection of the full show as it will be on tour.

Unfortunately, this show was disappointing when compared to the previous shows – and WIPs – I have seen Kumar perform. This show was particularly angry – a significant amplification of the angry persona (or not persona, if he is to be believed) he has portrayed himself as before now. There was little to no let up; no light or shade in the delivery to the extent to which it was both difficult to follow and quite alienating. Kumar made reference about 10 minutes in to his set to the ‘plus ones’ in the room who were not expecting what they were seeing. For me, who was not the ‘plus one’, I’m afraid the same was true.

It is, of course, a time to be angry: there is much to be frustrated with and scared by in the world, and yet Kumar here missed so many opportunities to find the funny. There were moments where I could not have agreed more in what he said, and moments where his opinions pushed into some quite radical zones. There were, of course, moments I found very funny indeed – one particular routine about white supremacists was particularly amusing. Yet, it was an hour more like a lecture than a comedy show, and whilst there was laughter in the room it did not seem to reflect the number of people in the packed Monkey Barrel room.

Unfortunately, Nish did kill my vibe.

⭐⭐