Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous

The provocative US comic Lewis Schaffer continues his run of free shows at Soho's elusive Source Below bar. A seasoned stand-up who used to play all of Manhattan's big comedy clubs, the amiable Schaffer left "the best city in the world" back in 2000 when he married an English girl. Almost 10 years, two children and a divorce later and the bespectacled, besuited jokesmith finds himself a hostage in a council flat in Nunhead. Schaffer plays the middle-aged Jewish New Yorker schtick with aplomb (think the neuroses of Woody Allen and the irreverence of Greg Proops) and he's certainly not shy of harsh one-liners, offensive put-downs and delusional, opinionated bitching. He created a storm at last year's Edinburgh Festival after sending out a press release claiming his mother was the new sponsor of the Comedy Awards, which would now be called "The Lewies". After one local paper printed the story, he was threatened with legal action - but managed to pick up a BBC prize for the festival's best publicity stunt. Cynics may say that this free run of shows is just that - a publicity stunt - but as the comedian says: "It's free, so what do you have to lose?!" Schaffer's train of thought can often be derailed, but he blends satirical bullets with a large dose of dark comedy and he's not afraid to wind up the audience, which can make for thrilling - if unpredictable - interaction in this intimate basement venue. A collection is made at the end, but you get the impression that all Schaffer wants is a bit of fame and some friends: "The British aren't very friendly," he laments. "It takes 10 years to make a friend in the UK. I've been here nine years: my friend is coming."