Being the Grand Final of a 6 month search claiming to “showcase outstanding stars-in-the-making” and with thousands of young hopefuls trying to break into the world of stand up, this show should have delivered the cream of the crop. Whether it was nerves that got to some of the finalists or complacency is unclear, but what is obvious is that some of them just aren’t ready for the big time yet. In particular Mark Restuccia seemed to be somewhat lacking, with nothing individual or distinctive to his act and a rather dull delivery. Granted comedy is subjective but in this case it would appear that the majority of the audience agreed, for once the votes were counted, those who struggled ranked nowhere. Having been pitched as a ‘Grand Final’ the overall standard of this show was disappointing and wasn’t much different to catching those up-and-coming acts who try their hand at a 5 minute slot down at your local comedy club.
That said eventual winner Rob Beckett was the show’s saving grace (along with host Stephen K Amos, naturally); personable, imaginative and with a Watsonesque delivery, Beckett is a wealth of comedic material who as a stand-alone act deserves 5* ratings. Runner up Liam Williams also deserves a mention for his engaging style. Reminiscent of fellow comedian Dan Atkinson (another comedian who deserves far greater recognition), Williams slightly chaotic but enthusiastic delivery ensured the audience were on his side even when his content occasionally let him down.
For the majority of these finalists stardom is a long way off; Williams will get there eventually but for Beckett it’s surely just around the corner.
Now I’m pretty sure comedy reviewers are meant to be impartial so here goes my review on my already declared ‘Master of Comedy’. Jon Richardson is AMAZING. Ah, erm, impartiality you say? Yes yes, ok! Admiration aside he’s still pretty darn good, so-called ‘disappointing’ Edinburgh or not (as his fellow GITS wouldn’t let him forget!) Whilst last year’s show encouraged audiences to avoid life’s peaks and troughs (thereby sidestepping the depression that inevitably follows a high), drawing on his stint on Grouchy Young Men, this year Richardson’s focus is very much on turning molehills into mountains, letting the little things really get you down. In the firing line includes watching the news (too much going wrong in the world), optimists (too damn happy), that infamous Bobby McFerrin song (not enough worrying) and even his true love, football, or more precisely John Terry (too much philandering). All of which is delivered beneath a £500 prop of the very thing that led to this year’s tirade; a set of traffic lights, yes really.
Having experienced Richardson’s gigs numerous times, I didn’t go expecting an hour of carefree comedy (the clue is in the title after all) and therefore accordingly I wasn’t disappointed. Besides, these tales of woe are delivered, rather ironically, with such gusto that they are a delight to listen to. By the end of the show his childlike manner, self deprecation, and cheeky demeanour will mean you want to scoop him up and take him home in an attempt to reassure him that it’s all going to be alright (no? Just me then!).
Don’t let the misanthropic nature of his comedy put you off; he doesn’t expect you to agree with him (well aware is he of his ability to outgrump even the Grinch), and he isn’t there to convert you to his ways, far from it - Richardson doesn’t wish his predicament on anyone. In short he does the worrying so you can do the happying!
Following the unmitigated success of his 2009 show ‘This Guy at Night’, it may appear that Richardson has lost his way a little this Edinburgh but (against his better nature) he’s bound to find it again and in the meantime he’s still bloody excellent. Catch him on tour while you can.
Jimmy McGhie: The All-Powerful Warrior Who With His Endurance and Inflexible Will to Win Goes From Conquest to Conquest Leaving Fire in His Wake – Pleasance Courtyard
From the moment Jimmy McGhie walks on stage you can’t help but like him – affable, enthusiastic and unignorably easy on the eye, he ticks every box in terms of potential stardom. Not only does he get away with causing a ticketing nightmare by having what must be one of the longest title’s at this year’s fringe, but so too does he get away with brazenly adopting former African dictator Joseph Mobutu as the inspiration for his show. As a result of an ongoing (and somewhat reluctant) mission, this is the man that McGhie channels throughout the hour as he endeavours to become a more dynamic and purposeful human being.
As becomes apparent throughout the show, McGhie doesn’t think of himself as one of life’s go-getters. Christened ‘Jimmy Pies’ at school, having just turned 30 he now finds himself living with his older sister (before getting them both kicked out) and with hours to while away in Tesco Metro. And so ensues an hour of largely observational and self-exploratory comedy in which McGhie regales the audience with his inability to move with the technological times, his frustration with estate agents and his distaste for those ‘Gap Yah’ students he encounters whilst taking time out in Kenya. Not only are such tales cleverly crafted and smoothly interwoven, but McGhie also succeeds in bringing the hour to an agreeable conclusion.
So why the mediocre rating? Well, whilst the overall concept of his show is a good one, his ‘inner Mobutu’ is a device he doesn’t make enough use of. Despite it providing some of the biggest laughs of the night, by the end it felt little more than an excuse for McGhie to talk about what he perceives to be his rather lacklustre life. That’s the other main problem with his show; it feels just a little bit insincere, almost as if his material stems not from his own beliefs but rather an attempt to give the audience what they want. It’s what I would term ‘nice guy comedy’, nothing more nothing less.
This Edinburgh McGhie undoubtedly played it safe. That said, he is certainly a talented comedian who is swiftly rising through the comedy ranks – it’s just that unlike Mobutu, he’s not quite yet leaving fire in his wake
Comedy Hen
