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# Hal Cruttenden: Tough Luvvie: The Udderbelly, South Bank, London: Review
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/hal-cruttenden-tough-luvvie-the-udderbelly-south-bank-london-review/
- Published: 2013-06-07T21:42:14.000Z
- Updated: 2013-06-07T21:42:14.000Z
- Description: Last time I saw Hal Cruttenden he was acting his chops off in the tiny Trafalgar Studios in a show based on the works of George Orwell. “Yes, I’m a ‘proper’ actor,” he says in Tough Luvvie, his new solo comedy piece. “Three years at acting school, then bit parts on the telly.” So now […]
- Author: Kat Pope
- Tags: Arts, Theatre

![Hal Cruttenden](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/web-60027.jpg)

Hal Cruttenden

**Last time** I saw **Hal Cruttenden** he was acting his chops off in the tiny Trafalgar Studios in a show based on the works of **George Orwell.** *“Yes, I’m a ‘proper’ actor,”* he says in *Tough Luvvie*, his new solo comedy piece. *“Three years at acting school, then bit parts on the telly.”* So now he’s trying his hand at stand up and making a bloody good fist of it, forging a successful path in a very different way. **Cruttenden** is a comedian on the verge of stardom. That’s pretty plain to see.

He’s a comparatively gentle comedian and a very camp man. He can’t help it, he says. Even his 12 year old daughter **Martha** is convinced he’s gay. Middle aged and middle-spreading, he’s a *“typical middle class twat”,* a man who hates ‘manly men’ and who runs away from any sort of confrontation. Even his banter with the audience is pretty good natured.

A woman runs into the show late, clearly flustered and excited. *“I’m sorry,”* she gasps, *“but I’ve just bumped into a Made in Chelsea person!”* Which one?, he asks her. *“Francis!”* Another person squeals at the name. *“You’re SO not my crowd,”* exclaims Hal, big grin on his face.

Battling a little to be heard above the thud, thud, thud coming from outside the cosy **Uderbelly**, **Cruttenden** confesses his left wing leanings – *“I am political but quite badly informed”* – while imagining how politicians speak to their children, and the fact that we all love the poor as long as they’re from 150 years ago and can hold a showtune.

He also has a novel take on *Operation Yewtree* – it means there’s more space for him to get on the Royal Variety Show: *“Lots of parts opening up. Two in Corrie. Then there’s Animal Hospital….”* His nastiest joke is at the expense of Oscar Pistorius, and I think we can all take that one on the chin.

There’s so little to dislike about **Cruttenden** and so much to like. He’s not your most outrageously innovative comedian, but nor is he a bland bugger. And he’s funny. Which always helps.

I reckon that in ten years time we’ll see Hal going full circle and taking on more acting than comedy. Comedy is the new bit part in The Bill, you see: a way in. And you can, of course, make an absolute fortune in the process. Which always helps too…..

You can catch **Hal** next up in Edinburgh, and he’s back in London in November (but he’ll be on your tellybox much sooner than that I’m sure)

Four and a half stars