Frank Skinner, the British comedian known for his humor and enduring success, came to Vicar Street in Dublin on Wednesday evening to perform. His arrival coincides with a new era of touring, radio, and podcasts, diverting from his usual prime time TV appearances. The 67-year-old West Midlands native commences his performance by downplaying his long-standing popularity.
Skinner is renowned not just in the UK but also in Ireland and is on an intriguingly-named tour, ’30 Years of Dirt’, which comprises 40 stops. The majority of his shows are sell-out events, indicating his continuing appeal. A testament to his humour that often includes “knob jokes,” Skinner jokes about his attempts to aim for higher artistic ambitions, with his juvenile humour always finding its way back to him.
His tour is not just about fun and laughter. Skinner, a former English literature scholar, uses his jokes as metaphors, comparing them to Catherine pleading “let me in!” at the windows in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
In the modern comedy industry, Skinner has learnt to adapt his humour to a more thoughtful approach in keeping with societal norms. He says, back in former tours, dirty jokes were the norm but in the current comedy environment, it has become a children’s game of avoiding the buzz by not touching the live wire.
Skinner does not hold any resentment towards the shift in the comedy industry’s taste standards. Instead, he embraces the transition. He nuances his disapproval of comedians who bemoan the shift by stating that those comedians miss being able to make racially charged jokes. In his trademark witty style, Skinner seems to be both nostalgic of his past and accepting of the changing comic climate.
The seasoned comedian has an inviting and seamless on-stage demeanour, derived from over thirty years of performing live and thinking on his toes. Skinner’s interaction with his audience is extraordinary, seeming entirely at ease as he glides effortlessly through skilled storytelling, jests peppered with amiable asides, and impromptu musings on a range of topics, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s toned abs to uncanny encounters with Tim Rice and homemade veterinary skills.
Though some of his puns may make you squirm and appear below his skill level, Skinner unflinchingly remarks that he’s always enjoyed evoking laughter with his bottom-shelf humour. His content might be light, but its execution is so masterful that it outshines many of the youthful and inventive comedians that are his peers.
“These jokes aren’t what you get from the younger generation. You’re witnessing a craftsman in his element. It’s akin to observing your village blacksmith in action”, he humorously hints at some point. A few of his jokes might fall flat if delivered by a less competent comedian, but Skinner’s performance, pacing, and rhythm distinguish him from the rest.
He may not be pioneering, but his craftsmanship is undeniably pristine.