A 20-plus-year comedy career is more than enough time to experiment with various types of humour, determine one’s skills and discover what makes audiences chuckle. Thus, going to a veteran’s stand-up comedy hour is nearly a guaranteed fun night out filled with laughter provided by a well-developed talent — assuming of course you share the entertainer’s sense of humour. “Jimmy Carr: Funny Business” didn’t disappoint in the least, delivering a night of absolute enjoyment at Just for Laughs.
Before the show even begins, the large screen at the back of the stage announces that anyone desiring to heckle the comedian should first evaluate how funny they are and then submit their comment via Twitter. And after a few more humorous title cards, it eventually counts down to Carr‘s appearance. His routine has a noticeable trajectory of increasingly racy jokes, gradually moving from lighter personal observations to commentary on his own legal issues to gags that purposely crossover into politically incorrect territory, including an impersonation that will undoubtedly make you feel bad for laughing even though you won’t be able to help it.
Carr has never been afraid to test the waters with a slightly off-colour joke and then follow it up with something that definitely goes too far but is nonetheless hilarious. He also enjoys interacting with the audience, although he probably received some of the best unexpected responses at this show as two young women in the front row regaled him with the story of their friendship which began with one woman stalking the other. He also probably ruined a mother and son’s relationship by coaxing too much information from the former regarding her personal grooming.
To mix things up a little, Carr takes an atypically sophisticated seat behind the mysteriously present desk to share some jokes with supporting illustrations. There was never a dull moment or a long pause between at least a smile if not a full-out howl and in spite of ending against the wishes of many audience members, it definitely ends on a high note.
