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Tom Goodliffe: The Good Liffe
Published on Friday, 19 August 2011
3

3 stars

The Edge Festival @ Cabaret Voltaire (venue website)
Comedy
4-14, 16-29 Aug, 3:45pm-4:45pm
Reviewed by Alice de Cent

 Recommended for age 12+ only.

Accountant turned stand-up comedian Tom Goodliffe has been cursed with a name that frequently provokes the question “do you have a good life?” from complete strangers.  In The Good Liffe, he sets out to answer that question.

Declaring himself to be “not cool”, Goodliffe celebrates the fact – at one point with a rap about accountancy involving some witty maths-based puns, adeptly making technical jokes impressively accessible. The anecdotes centring around his lack of success in the dating arena are amiably told, and make for an enjoyable show.

The content isn’t breaking much new ground, but Goodliffe’s affable manner gets the audience on his side quickly, and there are some real gems to be found. Goodliffe’s delivery has a gentle pace, but is not without the odd surprise.

There are sections that seem to meander a little too much, and a few gags that don’t quite hit the mark, but Goodliffe’s unassuming charm and natural confidence see him through and allow him to get away with some self-referential jibes at his own performance.

Goodliffe’s self-effacing humour is easy to enjoy, and there are some stand-out moments of sharp humour in this pleasant tale about one man’s quest for happiness.

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