[MD] The Second Coming

[Ant McWatt]

I know there are a lot of people out there (even on MOQ Discuss) desperate 
to hear about any news about the second coming.  Anyway, finally here is 
some good news...  I was fortunate to read in the (Manchester) Guardian 
today that there will be a slight return of Bill Hicks at the Edinburgh 
Fringe later this month.  See the following reviews for details:


Bill Hicks was probably the most influential American comic of his 
generation, with his influence over the genre increasing exponentially 
following his death from cancer in 1994.  On paper, it seems only a fool 
would write a show of ‘new’ material and then conjure Hicks down from heaven 
to perform it. But Chas Early and Richard Hurst manage it in this stunningly 
well-crafted show.Yes, Early’s impersonation is immaculate and yes, he does 
look a little like Hicks with his bowl haircut and chubby features. But it 
is the quality of the material that astounds.

Of course, such is the path of history that many of the things Hicks ranted 
about in the early nineties such as the war in Iraq have sadly also been 
resurrected at the start of the 21st century. But that only gives Early and 
Hurst an anchor upon which to build their material. They have to come up 
with the rest - and how they do.

The script consists of angry, powerful polemic, delivered with real passion. 
It is somewhat ironic that, with few exceptions, none of the actual 
stand-ups at the festival are delivering material as powerful as this. It is 
satirical, it is well-researched, it is astonishingly good.

- Stage


“I’m Bill Hicks, and I’m dead now.”

There are so many levels that this show works on. The first is the surface 
layer where Chas Early is doing a rather impressive cover/tribute of the 
late Bill Hicks. Going ever so slightly deeper is the idea that Early is 
channelling the spirit of Hicks back down to let everyone know exactly what 
he thinks about the world today.

So yes, you can come in and finally see a comedian you never saw when he was 
alive. As exemplified by the four people in the audience who had seen him 
pre February 1994. And that there, that little throwaway line at the start 
of the show, sums up what Early and his writing partner Richard Hurst are 
actually wanting to talk about. The Cult of Bill.

What is it about Hicks that has made him more popular in death than in life? 
Why are his words still being read, his CD’s being sold, his act being 
quoted, and nothing has changed in the world? Are people not listening? And 
why is Dennis Leary now leeching off the New York Fire Department in the 
same way that Early/Hicks demonises him in his hour long show?

Throughout the show, which makes no use of existing Hicks material (apart 
from common Hicksian themes such as guns, politics, rock music and blowjobs 
saving the world from terrorism), it really does feel that you are watching 
Hicks. It takes a lot longer to be comfortable with the performance than if 
you were to see a regular stand-up, but you are going to be there, in the 
zone, wondering whether you should laugh at jokes about the Columbine 
Massacre or 9/11 Corporate branding.
And then the last five minutes kicks in. If you’ve not worked out the Cult 
of Bill undercurrent, then Early (who’s own persona makes a little cameo 
appearance) pulls the rug out from under you, demanding that you look at 
yourself and ask why you’re at this tribute to a dead guy that nobody 
listened to until it was too late.

- Podcast Network


"Imitation without limitation"

For two years I have been pretty negative about this piece. Whether you are 
going to simply hijack Bill Hicks's pulling power and do some stand-up, or 
attempt to "be" Hicks in something more drama-based, it will always sound, 
frankly, a bit dodgy.

Well, now I have seen it and it is unimaginably brilliant. It even addresses 
the hijacking issue onstage in an unexpectedly honest and hugely clever 
moment towards the end. There is a small amount of set-up and backstory and 
it is done nicely. "Hicks" talks about his parents, his time on the David 
Letterman show, his death and heaven's house band. But it comes across as a 
killer stand-up set.

It is probably comedic blasphemy to say it, but I enjoyed this more than I 
enjoyed Bill Hicks himself. Stand-ups must feel distinctly uneasy to see an 
actor play a comedy blinder like this.  Chas Early is Hicks - and I mean is. 
He has that wonderful wasted passion, the gloriously base enthusiasm for all 
things sexual and more charm than the Halliwell Sisters. I hated that the 
show finished. I wanted more - and I hated that I knew that the great guy I 
saw onstage isn't there any more. Never has my disbelief been more willingly 
suspended.

The comedy is heavy-hitting and beautiful bad-boy stuff. The material kicks 
audience ass so you know there will be bruising tomorrow. There is rage and 
there is reflection, there is the personal and the political and, of course, 
there is sex and drugs and rock and roll... it is almost painfully good. It 
is almost painfully Hicks.

- The Scotsman

http://www.hurst.dsl.pipex.com/bill/reviews.htm

Also see the following for details:

http://www.festivalhighlights.com/2006/bill/index.html

Bill Hicks: Slight Return

Listed below are all the performances of Bill Hicks: Slight Return which 
will be staged at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, Tel. 0131 556 6550, 
(matinee performances in brackets):

21 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
22 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
24 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
25 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
26 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
27 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)
28 Aug 2006 17:00 (1:00)


'One-liners to treasure at every turn' Telegraph.
'Absolutely must-see show' **** Independent.
'Unsettlingly good' Guardian.
'Comedy blinder' **** Scotsman.
'Terrific, rollicking reincarnation' Metro.
'I want more, more, more, more, more.' ****  Marsha V.


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