Dan Clark is back on form. After a notable absence from the comedy circuit (and a notable absence in love life), he is back. It's been almost twelve years since he has had a proper girlfriend, and during that time he has spent a lot of time on his own. The show is based on this, hence the title
It's warm, heartfelt, and – most of all – reassuring to those of us who feel like we never really grew up.
All of this time alone has given Clark space to ruminate on things: the big questions such as how on earth did we ever function without mobile phones and the internet? This time alone has also given him – and his comedy – room to mature. His latest hour-long show feels a lot more considered than his previous efforts, and the extra preparation has paid off. Clark has evolved into a natural live performer, starting slow but slipping seamlessly into consistently funny material. The format of his stand-up has matured as well, with the show incorporating theatrical elements such as a fictionalization of one of his attempted dates, and the addition of a live drummer to accompany his guitar-based songs. He has not, however, left behind the childlike elements that make him such a refreshing and relatable performer. In fact, the other main focus of the show is the difference between Clark, a single, youth-obsessed, metrosexual man, and the responsible adult embodied by his late father.
Surprisingly, he depends very little on his television work for material, although fans of How Not To Live Your Life will be satisfied with the inclusion of his song Dating A Mermaid. The music plays an important part in the show, offsetting his introspective musings on sexuality, maturity and insecurity with genuinely silly and uplifting songs. Closing on the silliest song of all adds a sense of closure to the show, celebrating the arrested development Clark has struggled with throughout. It's warm, heartfelt, and – most of all – reassuring to those of us who feel like we never really grew up.
