Steve Gribben: Laugh at First Sight

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Steve Gribben’s solo show, which is meant to take the audience on a journey through his many years on the British comedy circuit, neither lives up to the name or the plot of the show.

While Gribben is undoubtedly a talented musician with a welcoming and friendly demeanour, the problem with Laugh at First Sight is that it consists of a series of brief anecdotes about Gribben’s long career, all tied together with music and references that have nothing to do with Gribben’s professional life – such as the recent riots. Although the show does highlight Gribben’s relaxed delivery and enviable musical talent, Laugh at First Sight seems fractured and a little disorganised, as though it’s been hastily rewritten in an attempt to better relate to last week's troubles.

While there are a few moments of original political parody and a defiant rage at current social injustices, specifically the recession and the bailouts for bankers, Gribben’s show only really gets stronger near the end, when his real voice cuts through the gristle of his earlier gags. Promising, but not quite there, Gribben needs to stick to musical parodies and leave the more topical stories alone.