Joe Pasquale The New Normal, 40 Years Of Cack … Continued At Lighthouse Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel S-W
I know a song that’ll get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get get get on your nerves …. that’s my core memories of Joe Pasquale (and how delighted I was that this was featured in the show) I love his type of comedy, so how pleased was I that the tour came to Lighthouse Poole. His tour, The New Normal, 40 Years of Cack … Continued, was resurrected into 2024. For this year’s shows we had the opportunity to have a Q&A session with Joe at the end. I really look forward to these as they give a real insight into the person behind the comedy.
The show started in July 2023 with the second leg, the “Continued” version resuming in 2024. Joe has five further dates and then he will wrap up the tour for the year. Looking on his website, www.joepasquale.com, Joe has been in the business since 1987 and has hosted and appeared in a variety of different shows, from being crowned King of the Jungle in I’m a Celebrity, to hosting The Price Is Right, competing on Dancing On Ice as well as celebrity specials and comedic events.
Upon entering the Concert Hall, we could see the stage, ready and waiting for the show to begin. There were a LOT of props ready and waiting, so whilst we were counting down the minutes until the show started, we were trying to guess what each of the props would be used for. Some of them were very easily recognised magic show style props, along with the humble balloon. The only thing I would change about the performance was the venue within the Lighthouse. Tonight’s event was in the Concert Hall, which I felt was too big a space for the show. The theatre would have made for a much more intimate evening.
The warm up act had the job of warming up the crowd and we needed a bit of warming but we got there quickly. The comedian had a very similar genre to Joe and his sketch took us through his childhood through to the 80s. And then Joe Pasquale came out … I don’t want to spoil the surprise but his outfit … just looking at it made us laugh.
I can’t actually remember the specific jokes, they were fired out at such a rate and they could have been shot out from a comedy cannon, it was fast paced, completely silly and boy.. did I laugh. I cried with laughter. The jokes and gags were well timed and you can tell that Joe really enjoys being up on the stage. The times when the gag, the audience participation and the comedy all came together was just gold. Expect 90s style jokes together with magic show tricks, gags and the occasional water.
It was fascinating to have the Q&A at the end of the show. Joe was asked a series of questions that ranged from what performances did he prefer, panto, stand up or stage, his best bits from I’m A Celebrity and would he go back to playing Frank Spencer on Stage for Some Mothers Do Have Em. It was a great way to end the show.gi thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening. I laughed so much and would highly recommend this fast paced, classic comedy styling. As Joe said, the world is a tough place sometimes and it’s nice to get out and enjoy a bit of Cack! Brilliant. Great for giving you a few hours away from life to have a giggle
Rating:
5/5 Take my money Lighthouse and make me laugh!
Tickets for the show started from £29.15
This was a one night show but the Lighthouse consists of multiple performance spaces such as the concert hall, theatre, smaller studios and a cinema so they have a host of things to pique your interest. Visit their What’s On Guide here https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/whats-on/ https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/joe-pasquale/
The full address is Lighthouse, Arts and Entertainment, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG