Andrew Lawrence: The Too Ugly For Television Tour

Bad reviews can, on occasion, be a boon to comedians simply for their comic value. Andrew Lawrence doesn’t get many of them, but he does embark on a harangue about his reviewers’ tendency to call him a misanthrope. After his hour is over, it's hard to disagree with them.

He's misanthropic – but in the most endearing manner. Self-deprecating and understated, he tears into his career, his relationships and anything else in view with deadpan, stoic wit. His self-deprecation is never tiresome or self-indulgent; it is perfectly pitched for optimal impact. Lawrence’s standup is mostly anecdotal, and he uses his comedic talent to full effect with hilarious imitations and roleplay.

Despite sounding excruciatingly constipated (Lawrence himself claims he has “the voice of a sex-offender”), his delivery is flawless. Interspersing monotonous tirades with quirky quips and one-liners, Lawrence has a remarkable ability to engage an audience.

Some of the rants miss the mark, and sometimes he seems on the verge of taking himself too seriously. Jokes about girlfriends with penises and rants about “corporations” occasionally bore an otherwise engrossed audience. On the rare occasion when he stoops to a cheap shot, he’s quick to acknowledge it with a shrug and a cheeky, sheepish grin. With a touch more variety, Lawrence's sheer comic talent has the potential to transform this show into a winner.