Rob Tarbuck – Original Review
Note: This review is from 2007
Review by Steve Bennett
Rob Tarbuck has an appealing stage presence. Full of Tiggerish high spirits, he seems genuinely excited just to be on stage, resulting in delivery that’s upbeat and animated – but not to the point of distraction – which is likely to perk up any evening.As a newish act, his conversational material is still not full formed. Much of it needs to be sharper, and there’s plenty of fat to trim, even if his likeable style makes the content feel relatively fresh.
He’s lived in French-speaking Canada for a while, and that’s informed his set; from the exaggerated accent he opens with, via the bilingual Snap, Crackle and Pop, to the graphic images of disease-riddled organs the Canadians put on cigarette packets as a health warning. They’re fairly lightweight observations – the fag packet one being almost hack among comics in countries where it applies – but he makes it fun.
The coming year or so will probably determine whether he’s got the comic insight to find material to back up his energy; but at the moment his shortish sets provide a invigorating blast of inconsequential fun.
Review date: 4 May 2007
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
