Stephen Bailey: Can’t Think Straight

The Stand, Glasgow

Waspish, risqué, but with an underlying warmth, Stephen Bailey fights shy of presenting a worthy show with a message, reassuring the crowd that if he ever gets too thoughtful there’ll be plenty of “dick jokes” along in a minute. And there are, plenty, as he works the crowd with mischievous charm, often sardonic and snippy, but with aspirations to inclusivity.

For all he’s upfront and filthy, his vulnerability is established from the start, as he shares his coming-on-too-strong desperation to turn a new relationship into a marriage. As an overtly camp, working-class man he’s acutely aware of the behaviour expected of him. And he revels in memories of working on a supermarket checkout, gossiping with, and about, some brilliant, blousy northern women.

Nevertheless, his struggles to define himself, and to an extent his comedic voice, are bound up with him confounding stereotype.

A taekwondo black belt, he’ll affect shallowness about appearances, then suggest a man’s salary is more important, leaving you guessing as to where his superficiality begins and ends.

His parents are portrayed as typical Brits abroad, loud, lazy and ignorant, contrasted with his French fluency. But they belatedly emerge as role models, not least his ultra-hetero father, too proud to be laid low by a heart attack.

There’s just the hint of a message about prejudice as the avowedly judgmental Bailey decries the many countries still outlawing homosexuality. But he’s more comfortable recreating blowjob technique, making for a crowd-pleasing show that almost in spite of itself dabbles in more profound matters.