Martin Coyote – Original Review
Note: This review is from 2009
Review by Steve Bennett
As a compere, the hugely experienced Martin Coyote accesses his databanks of material with the speed of a Google search, effortlessly using any audience cue as a slip-road into his prepared routines. If the links are sometimes tenuous, he hides it well with his smooth fluency.The gags themselves? Well, they’re broad and generic, the usual sort of middle-of-the-road observational banter about relationships and the like that involves little thought to understand. This shallow material, combined with his undistinctive persona of a cheery middle-aged Everyman realist, can make for an unmemorable experience. That no punter has registered an opinion on him either way in the nine years he’s featured on this website seems testament to the fact he’ll neither wow you, nor stink the room out.
It has been that long since Chortle has seen this comedy journeyman do a regular set, or even in one of his regular appearances as a member of the Comedy Store’s Cutting Edge team, where his lack of ambition in his writing might be exposed. But as an MC, this is much less important. He’s never going to upstage the acts, that’s for sure, and as an amiable social lubricator able to get the audience shushed and pointing in the right direction, his safe pair of hands gets the job done, even if it’s with little flourish.
Review date: 26 Jan 2009
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
