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Kitson is now as well known for these ruminative, narrative-based theatre shows as for his looser, more combative standup – although the distinction is often thin. (“Daniel likes to say that the only difference is that, in the theatre shows, he wears a hat,” says Thomas.) Kitson can be hilarious in both, but in neither is that entirely the point. “Yes, he’s funny,” says Burns, “but he’s also a poet and a philosopher. He completely expresses humanity. The fact that we are all alone, the experiences and emotions we all share – being happy or sad, falling in love, falling out of love – he manages to catch it.” Burns compares Kitson to Alan Bennett, but there is a dash of Eric Morecambe about him, too – and not just in the restless shoving-up of those thick black specs.
Daniel Kitson - “The Salinger of standup”
As an unfortunate consequence of the fact that my Edinburgh plans were a bit last minute this year, I didn’t manage to get tickets for either of the Daniel Kitson shows that will be on while I’m there. I’m going to try at the door for last-minute uncollected reservations (which worked for a couple of sold-out shows last year), but judging by that article, I probably won’t have much luck. Still, I’m lucky enough to have seen him twice before, and both times were absolutely amazing - his comedy is smart, thoughtful, never lazy or cheap, and every bit as moving as it is funny. If he ever does a show near any of you, do yourselves a favour and go.
