Rob Beckett: Giraffe comedy review – A tender juggernaut
Caught between two worlds, this cheeky chappie has charm to burn
Much of Rob Beckett’s material since hitting the mainstream has revolved around him being a working-class boy from Bromley. But now, at 40, he’s not ashamed to admit he’s doing rather well. A regular on primetime telly and podcasts with famous mates that are namechecked more than once, he’s moved up the ranks with a middle-class wife, a new countryside home, and a menagerie of pets.
Most of Giraffe’s first half focuses on Beckett straddling these two worlds. Talking at a hundred miles a minute, he jumps around, barely stopping for breath as he rattles off observational quips about long-term marriage, parenting hell and domestic minutiae. A cheeky chappie persona makes him an effortlessly charming storyteller, but not all these gags feel especially fresh. There’s no real structure to Giraffe, and while Beckett’s tangents and crowd work are part of his appeal, some shock-value detours feel unnecessary; but he always has the audience in the palm of his hand.
The second half veers into less well-trodden territory and is stronger as a result. Now at the stage of life where he’s juggling young children and ageing parents, this is relatable to anyone in the same boat. He introduces his parents as free-range boomers, including his 81-year-old dad, a proper Del Boy-style geezer. From their younger lives gaming the system to retirement spent roasting themselves in Spain, Beckett paints a picture of his parents that’s both tender and irreverent. While not groundbreaking, there's plenty to enjoy for fans and newcomers alike.
Rob Beckett: Giraffe tours until Saturday 18 April; reviewed at Edinburgh Playhouse; picture: Through A Lens Photography.