Nick Offerman wants to make it clear that there is more to him than a moustache. The currently clean-shaven actor is best known as Ron Swanson, the boss with the manly facial hair in hit comedy Parks and Recreation (and is so popular that you can buy a cushion with his face on it). Swanson is why this show sold out and an extra one was added in July. If you like your comedy quirky, slow-burn and non-hirsute grab a ticket.
This is not strictly stand-up though. It is essentially the Illinois-born Offerman delivering a laid-back monologue about his life and philosophy punctuated by light-hearted folksy songs on subjects ranging from hiding alcohol in religious artefacts to the tyranny of masculinity.
Offerman repeatedly drew a distinction between real Nick and sitcom Ron. Some devotees, however, simply cannot handle seeing him in real life without Ron’s face fuzz. He recalled one particular fan who said: “I saw Nick Offerman without his moustache. I vomited and died.”
Despite the adulation he remains humble. He described roles in notable shows including Devs, The Last Of Us and, most recently superhero series The Umbrella Academy, as lottery tickets he keeps winning, giving the credit to the writers and directors who put the lines in his mouth and tell him where to stand.
This modesty may come from the fact that he never expected to be a household name, even though he got the theatre bug at an early age. He combined bit parts with carpentry until Parks and Recreation changed everything. He still works with wood, but has to carve out the time for it these days between filming.
The songs are catchy and clever. In one stand-out number he explains that he is such a committed Anglophile he desperately wants to work on British TV. He has clearly done his research, namedropping Loose Women, Masterchef (“I’m more Hollywood than Paul”) and even Phillip Schofield, hinting that he is available to co-host This Morning.
Elsewhere he sings the praises of his wife, Will & Grace star Megan Mullally. His humane, homespun outlook – we are all fallible and should hug more – is hard to argue with. He talks about playing a gay character in post-apocalyptic drama The Last Of Us and remembers being horrified to receive hate mail.
An endearing old-fashioned streak keeps surfacing. He worries about Artificial Intelligence, noting that actors now have contractual clauses saying that they cannot be replaced by AI. One song, which is both hilarious and haunting, is about how Siri can take over your life so much you may be in danger of having a closer relationship with your digital assistant than with your wife.
There are a few unexpected digressions, such as an extended tribute to late singer songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, but Offerman’s easygoing charm buys him the space to be a little indulgent.
“I hate to disappoint you but I’m just me,” he jokes as he reminds everyone that Ron does not exist. Don’t worry Nick. Moustache or no moustache, you did not disappoint.
