Donald Mack warms up with some well-placed jokes about the small size of the venue, him performing at the Free Festival as opposed to Assembly, jokes about Edinburgh - Leith in particular, where he says that he stays during the festival. He introduces the title Adventures of an Orgasm Donor, and his one and only prop - a Rampant Rabbit. It's abandoned on a stool on stage and hardly ever referred to, along with the title and a theme that he mentions, 'Emasculated by society', which also doesn't seem relevant to the actual show.

He tells some jokes about his failed relationships and his children, but mainly jokes about being a black man living in Britain. The jokes are reasonably funny, but there's little connection to the show's title. A few rude but fitting comments are thrown at different audience members, with some success; but several of today's audience leave during the show. He explains that all of his material is fiction and only inspired by reality, and tells a funny story about being contacted by the police about offensive material from his show. But constant explaining and justifying himself leaves a sense of belittling the audience's intelligence - for example there perhaps isn't a need to explain that he does not actually teach his children how to give great blowjobs. He comes across as being apologetic after some of the cruder jokes, which seems out of place: perhaps either be rude and accept the audience's reaction or don't bother. Throughout the show, he keeps drinking from a glass; lots of comics do this, but it's done without timing or flair, and distracts, spoiling the flow. Although the title of the show is misleading, Donald Mack comes across today at his best as a funny guy with some great jokes, though judging from the walk-outs maybe not to everyone's taste.

Cast Credits: Performer - Donald Mack.

Company Credits: Writer / Director - Donald Mack. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Laughing Horse Free Festival.

END

(c) Trine Garrett 2008

reviewed Monday 18 August 08 / Laughing Horse @ Espionage, Edinburgh

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com