Funny man Rich Hall is set to perform his new brand new show An Evening With Rich Hall at The Kings Theatre in Portsmouth on May 24.
Rich has come a long way since he gave up his job as a hurricane namer for the United States Meteorological Service.
Rich Hall
Now, more than two decades later, he is hailed as one the best comedians to come out of America. Rich is well-known for his gruff, deadpan style, the man from Montana is a master of absurdist irony and rapid-fire wit.
The American comedian has gained his reputation in the UK by starring in such TV shows as Stand Up For The Week, QI, Live at the Apollo, Channel 4’s Comedy Gala Live at the O2, Have I Got News for You, and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
Having lived in the UK for 14 years, Rich said: “I feel I’ve earned the right to talk about Britain. I like to talk about what’s going on in America and compare that to here. There’s plenty of material there.
One of the elements that distinguishes Rich’s live act is that he tailors each show to that particular location.
Rich said he adored the spontaneity of live comedy: “I really look forward to the fact that every night is different – that’s the only way to keep it fresh. A lot of comedians lock onto a show and never change it. But for me, that is not taking advantage of where you are. The more you try to acknowledge where you are and take in local colour, the more you involve yourself with an audience and the more comic sparks fly.
Rich said he continued to get a real thrill out of live comedy.
Over the years, the stand-up has cultivated a marvellously grouchy comedy persona. In fact, he is perceived as so crotchety that Matt Groening based the character of Moe, the short-tempered bartender in The Simpsons, on Rich.
Rich said that disgruntled persona worked well as a comic vehicle: “You can articulate the audience’s anger. We all know that you can’t be that angry all the time, but as a comedian you can touch on it and help people to express their rage. You always have to have a target, whether it is The Man, the economy, the government or some celebrity idiot. Something has to be taken down a notch, and the best way to approach that is through articulated rage.”
An Evening With Rich Hall is guaranteed to be full of compelling stories, one-liners, piercing insights and funny songs.
Details and booking from the King’s Theatre.