James Dowdeswell: Doofus

James Dowdeswell goes to great lengths to distinguish being a "doofus"—the rough equivalent of a "numpty"—from being a "dick".

Dowdeswell is certainly not a dick. He is an immensely likeable, friendly figure with a charming English awkwardness. Before the performance he distributes roasted nuts, and afterwards thanks each member of the audience individually, winning over an admittedly small crowd.

The problem is he’s not really a doofus either. Dowdeswell is clearly very bright, his set sprinkled with literary allusions. This intelligence gives him a light touch, but also makes him inhibited. He's too polite to push jokes to the point where they’re funny, often resulting in anti-climactic punchlines. Similarly, in his anecdotes about humiliating situations, he never truly embarrasses himself. One aspect of being a doofus is surely being part clown.

There are flashes of doofusness in the staging. A message from German standup Henning Wehn surprises Dowdeswell so much he knocks over his coffee, forcing the stage manager to run for a towel which merely points out the incongruous nature of this pre-recorded element. Similarly, his repeated mentioning of the audience's names and careers grows slightly awkward, serving as a reminder he hasn’t derived any laughs from their first interaction.

In the end, Dowdesell is neither a dick nor a doofus. Merely pleasant to be around.