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Andrew Bird - Up Against It

 
Faith-Ashleigh Wong Review by Faith-Ashleigh Wong 4 Published: 19 Aug 2014 Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters Show Dates: 17 Aug 2014-24 Aug 2014

Andrew Bird begins the show on what he admits is an angry note. Since the 2008 recession, he has gotten married, got himself a mortgage and two “pet humans”. Consequently this has taken a toll on him financially which has made him the grumpy person he is today.

Up Against It is an enjoyable, jam-packed hour of disgruntled yet amusing rants that will easily entertain from start to finish.

Up Against It is a hilarious running diatribe about the many things in life that aggravate Bird, largely in relation to his current financial situation. Over the course of the show, the audience are treated like his sounding board as he vents to us about the troubles that plague him as an extremely stingy person in an impoverished state.

While the theme of the hour is about being broke, Bird also weaves in hilarious anecdotes related to his family life. The ones involving his wife as well as his thoughts on marriage and having a child are particularly entertaining. His material is delivered in a very fervent and vociferous way which adds to the entertainment value of the stories being told.

Considering the crabby nature of the show, this is a lighthearted hour which travels at an upbeat pace. Bird is an engaging storyteller who holds the audience’s attention effortlessly. The show has a clear narrative arc and as each story or gripe is being told it creates somewhat of a snowball effect; we become completely invested in his plight and want to know more.

Up Against It is an enjoyable, jam-packed hour of disgruntled yet amusing rants that will easily entertain from start to finish. The ranting style may not be for everyone and you may not be able to relate to his predicament but there is still enough universally humorous content to make this a solid hour of stand up.

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The Blurb:

Andrew got married, bought a house and had two children during the worst recession since the 1920s. At last, he has earned the right to moan about things. He’s a man who doesn't see being tight with money as a bad thing, but rather a skill. For so long he's tried to be positive and easy-going, but no more. Andrew now feels justified in being negative and stressed out about everything. ‘Comedy gold ... going to be a star’ (Scotsman). ‘A great story teller ... funny, likeable and effortless’ (Time Out).