Show 41: John Robins: The Darkness of Robins

Having been a fan of the Elis James and John Robins Podcast for quite a few years, I thought it was time to finally check out John Robin’s solo work live (he’s got a few shows available on bandcamp for download – all well worth checking out).

With 8 previous Edinburgh shows, Robins has had plenty of time to cut his comedy teeth and find his voice.

This show was the counterpoint to Sara Pascoe’s LadsLadsLads, a recounting of the same break up but from the other side.

This was an hour of incredible comedy. Robins is a strong personality, an intriguing mix of strong, almost arrogant self-assuredness mixed with deep shame about his faults and with no qualms about bearing his pain for our entertainment.

It’s an hour of intensely funny, emotionally intelligent observations of break-ups, of his own self and adjusting to be single again.

Oddly, despite the almost larger-than-life persona, there’s a roguish charm to Robins and he manages to get the audience to sympathise with him, even with the moments of self-flagellation and self-deprecation.

The highlight of the show is the finale – an extended monologue where Robins details the start, build-up and messy, sad, tattered end of the relationship and the miserable Christmas post-break-up he and Pascoe spent together. The punchline though… good God: comic genius.

Apparently it’s been filmed for distribution but I’m not sure on which platform – regardless it’ll be a delight to watching this Edinburgh Comedy Award winning hour again.

Score: 10/10

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard

Show 40: John-Luke Roberts: Look on My Works, Ye Mighty, and Despair! (All in Caps)

I first encountered John Luke Roberts at ACMS (The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society) as co-host alongside Thom Tuck. I thought I’d see what he had to offer in his own right.

Having John-Luke Roberts as co-host to ACMS is fitting – his solo work is an electric, overwhelming display of absurdist clowning and characters.

This show starts off with Geoffrey Chaucer, barely dressed in a toga, speaking in faux-medieval seemingly with the catchphrase ‘sarry aboot me cack’ – there’s certainly very little left to the imagination.

What proceeds is an enigmatic romp through various characters, including The Portent of Death (a vampiric character who foretells people’s deaths, which typically end up being quite comic and altogether very unlikely), to Derek Jacobi, but dressed as what looks like an angler fish as he slowly destroys the world (a broccoli stem is in actual fact a tree).

This was a thrilling, surreal hour of quite brilliant absurdist character comedy that was all at once refreshing, hilarious and made for one of the more memorable shows from Edinburgh 2017.

His subsequent Comedians Comedian Podcast episode is equally fascinating and well worth checking out. I can’t wait to see what 2018 has to offer.

Score: 9/10

Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy Club

Show 39: Rob Kemp: The Elvis Dead

Dara o’ Briain, no less, tweeted about Rob Kemp’s show last year, and it quickly became an underground cult hit. I was intrigued to see what this newcomer was about.

The premise is simple: The Evil Dead 2 as told through bastardised Elvis Presley songs. Added to it is an abridged version of The Evil Dead 2 being played while Rob Kemp, dressed as Elvis, slowly transforms himself akin to the character in The Evil Dead.

As Kemp said at the start of the night ‘It’s a lot more fun if you sing along’.

Damn, it was one of the best, most fringe shows I’ve ever seen. Midnight at the Monkey Barrel Comedy Club, even in the middle of the week, packed with tipsy comedy fans looking for a good time, and hell Kemp was right; it really is a lot more fun if you sing along.

It was a pretty magical feeling - stepping out of a packed comedy club at 1am, dizzy with joy after spending an hour singing to a crooner who's slowly losing limbs and blood, all without smut or even that many swea

This was a really thrilling, joyous hour of pure fun, silliness for the sake of silliness, and some damn good singing. So good, I’ve booked tickets to watch it again this year.

Score: 10/10

Venue: Monkey Barrel Comedy Club

Show 38: Sam Simmons: A-K

Having won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2015, it was said that Sam Simmons could even make reading from a telephone book funny – so that’s what he’s tried out to do.

In his Comedian’s Comedian Podcast episode, Simmons said that he knows what he does is funny, and if the audience doesn’t laugh it’s not his fault.

He’s definitely a self-assured comic, and he doesn’t pull and half-punches – the opening of A-K is Simmons dressed in an outlandish dress singing an operatic number in falsetto after which he quickly strips to reveal a cheerleader costume.

It’s a surreal insight into his comic mind, with skits and ideas that jump from place to place – it’s a mental feat just to keep up with this frenzied stream.

There’s no doubting the genius and creativity behind this incredible, bizarre stand-up. He’s not for everyone, but he certainly makes for a bewildering hour of entertainment.

Score: 7/10

Venue: Assembly Rooms, George Square Theatre

Show 37: Nick Helm: Masterworks in Progress '17

I first came across Nick Helm after he was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2013 (his 2^nd nomination). Subsequently he’s appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and I’ve watched him once before this show at the popular and excellent comedy venue The Union Chapel in London.

This was a work-in-progress show trialling material for future works, as such it didn’t have the strongest narrative thread through it, but was multiple rock-style songs, dark poems and witty asides that Helm’s well known for. He’s a mix of loud, bitterness against jilted love and a helpless romantic – it certainly makes for an interesting vibe. Also featured a guest appearance on guitar by David Trent.

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard

Score: No score for work in progress

Show 36: Andy Zaltzman: Satirist for Hire (World of 2017 Special Edition)

I think I first came across Andy Zaltzman via The Bugle Podcast, and subsequently heard more about him via his sister’s podcast ‘Answer Me This’ and his appearance in Kitson’s 2014 show Fuckstorm 3001. I thought it was finally time I gave Andy Zaltzman a watch proper.

His whole career has been based on political satire, and he certainly knows what he’s talking about. So assured is he in his abilities, the premise of the show is that audience members were invited to give him topics to satirise via e-mail, and is he has time then he takes audience suggestions and riffs on them.

Given I’m writing this review nearly a year after I watched, I can’t remember of the material, but I certainly remember being impressed and entertained by his ability to riff and give sharp political spin to the subjects. He’s a master at his art and you’d be sure for a decent hour of comedy from him, especially if you’re more inclined to political topics.

Score: 7/10

Venue: The Stand