Review: Ross Noble Nonsensory Overload at The Liverpool Empire

For any Ross Noble virgins out there, his gigs come with a guarantee - the show will be unique. A large proportion of the material will flow straight from the bizarre depths of Ross' mind or, at times even more bizarrely, an audience member's.

Having been a fan of Ross' work and his quick-witted, silly-schoolboy Geordie charm for many years now, it was with delight some months ago I spotted a new tour date listed for Liverpool.

The evening started off with the usual measure of unpredictability as Ross honed in on the front row, shivering in coats and scarves, in need of more than just the funny bone being warmed up. Noble, a skilful master of his audience, within seconds picked on an unsuspecting unemployed student for chatting to the friend sat beside him. "It's not the telly, you know! This is a two way thing!" Noble berated followed by a fine 3D re-enactment of a 'special' Abominable Snowman leaping from within the set to freak the poor chap out. "It's better than Avatar!"

The vibrant set is in itself a marvellous feast for the eyes, inflatable beasts and incomprehensible objects surround Noble from behind, as if figments of his imagination suddenly turned solid. Always keen to relate to the locals, Noble gleefully noted how 'shiny' Liverpool had become since his last visit two years ago, "It's amazing what a load of money and a lick of paint can do... Even the local paper sellers have been wrapped in tin foil!"

But soon after, Noble became lost in several incomprehensible trains of thought. Perhaps it was the cold weather or general fatigue overwhelming the audience, but much of the improv in the first half fell flat.

One bewildered audience member screamed "Get on with it!" and, although expertly put down by Noble, I couldn't help but partially agree. Relying so heavily upon a reluctant audience's interaction, observations regarding vulgar toilet humour and seemingly spare-of-the-moment mime acts, which were laboured, brings with it the risk that hilarity won't necessarily follow.

Noble is better than this. And, as willing audience members, the majority of whom are ardent fans of Noble, ready to lavish unusual gifts upon him during the interval, you feel compelled to stick with him. Or was it, perhaps, the allure of three bags of Gregg's pasties lurking behind the stage that kept us wanting more?

Noble without doubt absolutely thrives on spontaneity. Despite suffering a bad sore throat, he battled on to produce a storming second half. Never could any other man receive such a round of applause for wedging a german sausage in a porcelain pig.

With a tour named 'Nonsensory Overload', he's more than aware that his stream of consciousness is not compatible with the rest of us, admitting that he could never do any other job in the world. And we wouldn't want him to.

In this, like every one of his shows, Noble is unique. Which is why he's become an international superstar yet still has time to wander through the Metro Centre laughing at old ladies shocked by a Pudsey collecting for Children In Need - without his eye patch.

8/10

Catch Ross Noble on tour in the UK throughout December:

DECEMBER 2010
Wed 1 Northampton Royal and Derngate Theatre 01604 624 811
Thu 2 York Grand Opera House 0844 847 2322
Fri 3 Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357851
Sat 4 Cambridge Corn Exchange 01223 357851
Sun 5 Norwich Theatre Royal (On Sale NOW) 01603 630000
Tue 7 Ipswich Regent Theatre 01473 433100
Wed 8 Brighton Dome Concert Hall 01273 709709
Thu 9 Brighton Dome Concert Hall 01273 709709
Sun 12 London Hammersmith Apollo 0844 844 4748
Mon 13 London Hammersmith Apollo - EXTRA DATE

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