Rob Auton is described as many things in addition to being a stand-up comedian – a philosopher, thinker, poet, surrealist... He is all of these and more.
Wit, precision and a touch of silliness.
Advertorial for his show states that 'The Talk Show is a comedy / theatre / spoken word show about talking by award-winning writer and performer Rob Auton.' No mention of him being a stand-up comedian. But that is what he is, and brilliantly so, with excellent timing, an ease with ad-libbing and a great eye for a one-liner.
Having seen some of his material beforehand on YouTube (and liking it) I was completely unprepared for the cumulative effect of his quirky take on the world. Drawing the audience in over and over with his informal and engaging style, he moves from pathos to belly laugh with wit, precision and a touch of silliness.
Having done shows about such unlikely subjects as the colour yellow, hair and the sky, he talks here about talking itself. Who was it who uttered the first word, and why? And was that word ‘hello’?
The poetry that he delivers encapsulates all the dimensions of his stand-up patter, but it is also, well, poetic. Not doggerel or comic rhyme, but evocative and poignant as well as being very, very funny.
When speaking of the abject experience of completing a form in order to claim benefits back in 2009, the questions and his answers, taken out of the context of the form, are both hilarious and achingly sad.
It is Auton’s simple, authentic charm that shines forth in this delightful show. It is a massive achievement to get a final, happy cheer from an audience even whilst they are wiping away tears, after he describes how he wished he’d been able to say to someone close to him, "Thanks so much for being my friend."
Talking to each other, he reminds us, is worthwhile. Look how many people there are. They are everywhere! "My name is Rob," he says, "I am a human being."
His humanity is certainly apparent, and this show is highly recommended.
