We Love Comedy: Balham Bowls Club, London, 2014
We Love Comedy: The Pipeline, Liverpool Street, London, 2015
Old Comedian of the Year: Museum of Comedy, London, 2015
Headliners Comedy Club: George IV pub, Chiswick, London, 2015
Headliners Comedy Club (2 shows): George IV pub, Chiswick, London, 2016
Sol Bernstein is the alter-ego of Steve Jameson. Bernstein is a foul-mouthed Jewish pensioner who as he states in his set, ‘after years of playing care homes has come out of semi-retirement and is back on-stage playing clubs performing to drunks‘. The earliest I saw him was at two We Love Comedy performances in 2014 and 2015. These showcases were where he first delivered one of the best opening lines to any set I have ever heard which was ‘They told me I had five minutes to perform. I’m an 86 year old Jew. It takes me two and a half minutes to walk on stage and two and half minutes to walk off stage…’
When I attended the Old Comedian of the Year show heat at the Museum of Comedy in 2015, Bernstein made me cry with laughter throughout his set and after the show I met him and told him so. He seemed genuinely surprised.
But it was at two Headliners Comedy shows in 2015 and 2016 where Bernstein cemented his reputation and received one of the best audience reactions of the night, as he machine-gunned his way through his insolence and offensive one-liners. On both occasions as usual, he delivered defiantly un-PC material through the caustic façade of the character.
Always very enjoyable to watch, Bernstein is a great creation and addition to any comedy bill who when I have seen him live has provided constant guaranteed laughter. The act is exceptional and I look forward to seeing him again soon.