Paul F Tompkins has been lauded by Rolling Stone magazine and the Huffington Post, both for his observational stand-up and his podcasts. But for someone praised for a very modern form of entertainment, he strikes a rather old-fashioned figure when he comes on stage. Three-piece suit, shiny tie, watch fob in his waistcoat pocket, big hair - it's like he's channelling the late, great Dave Allen.
The mention of that superb Irish comic is no accident, for Tompkins is, like him, a wonderful raconteur. He too favours the long-form, shaggy-dog story that meanders around the subject with accents and anecdotes and ironic asides before it comes to a halt. The American tells fewer jokes and some of the stories have no discernible payoff, although they are no less funny for that. But, like Allen, he uses a stool to essay a neat little joke. As he takes the stage he moves the stool a couple of metres from one side of the microphone stand to the other, saying, “Did I ask the stage crew to place the stool in the wrong place? No, that's stagecraft, ladies and gentlemen.”
His view of love had been formed by watching Hollywood movies, he says
Crying and Driving, his UK debut, is a few vaguely interconnected stories about learning to drive, and learning to be grown-up enough to have his wife marry him, and why they haven't become parents. It's a watertight hour-long show - 60 minutes and the house lights go up, thank you and goodnight - and on the face of it so polished, unsweary and unthreatening there's a danger that it could be featureless and impersonal.
But it isn't and there are moments of quiet revelation, often in exquisite language, that linger in your head long after the show is over. He recounts leaving the house of some friends with his wife and wanting to talk about them, but she shushed him because she "doesn't light the gossip lamp” until they're at least two blocks away, and describes his problems with women before his wife accepted his proposal. His view of love had been formed by watching Hollywood movies, he says; unfortunately all the women in his life before her hadn't watched the same ones. He's also very funny on being that most unAmerican thing, a non-driver, until he was 41, and finally overcoming the affliction.
You may recognise Tompkins from various acting roles on television and film (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, There Will Be Blood) and he's a prolific writer and live performer in the States. He may have left it a long time to cross the pond, but it's good to have him here.
- Paul F Tompkins is at Soho Theatre, London W1 until 13 April
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