Nathaniel Matcalfe had been suggested by various famous
comedians on Twitter, and he’s a former regular guest on Josh Widdicombe’s old
Radio X show, and his show was directed by James Acaster, so I thought ‘why not?’
Turns out Metcalfe hasn’t been to the Edinburgh festival for
a few years, so this show marks his return.
It’s a show that takes us through the past couple of years
and looks at various topics, from getting over his break-up from a long-term
relationship, his love of Bowie, a stilted interview he once saw with Jeremy
Irons, and seeing Alan Davies’ lookalike in Hampstead Heath once.
The show has a structure, that’s for sure, but Metcalfe’s
delivery just feels far too stilted. His measured, calm approach could work if
he had good jokes, but unfortunately his pacing just seems off, the punchlines
seem obvious, or didn’t get the build-up they needed – a more natural delivery
might have helped, but that doesn’t really seem to be his style. A moment when
he recreates the Jeremy Irons interview just seems awkward – he can’t really do
acting, and even if he’s not meant to be acting in the parody video, his performing
style just doesn’t suit the arrogance Irons exuded.
Overall, this felt like a tedious hour, and though not a bad
string of ideas, the delivery and the writing just made the show fall flat. To
give him credit, though, he had written an hour, and he had some ideas – just not
that funny.
Score: 2/10
Venue: The Counting House
Dates: 10th-26th August (not 14th)
Time: 13:10
Price: Free non-ticketed
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