The set was a microphone placed in the corner of a second-storey room and an old black sheet in desperate need of ironing haphazardly tacked to the wall behind it. There was an oddly-placed electric air purifier just to the side, and the entire stage was lit solely by what looked like an ordinary desk lamp clipped to the ceiling.

MC and organiser of the show was charismatic Dan Willis – a master of his craft and a real crowd-pleaser. He worked the room expertly; he was easily the best part of the show. That's not to say the other acts weren't successes in their own right. Luke Benson, a ginger Geordie (someone from Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK) giant - standing at six-foot-seven-inches - was first. No-one was safe as he instantly took the mick out of Scots, Geordies and Londoners. It did seem as though he wasn't actually telling any jokes, but was more like a mate who had got a hold of a microphone at a party and started talking

Simon Buglass – a big bald Geordie - played on his quirky physical features for the main portion of his material. He was amusing, but seemed to find himself even funnier - struggling to get punch-lines out due to his uncontrollable laughter at his own jokes. Geordie Kai Humphries was a definite highlight of the evening. A particular crowd favorite was an anecdote about the trouble that predictive text messaging can cause. He was an incredibly likeable guy with a comically thick accent to go with it.

The show was closed by Obie, the only Jock (someone from Scotland, UK) of the night. His reportedly mediocre life and general self-loathing proved a brilliant basis for his routine: age 37, boring day job, lives alone, losing his hair, suffers from depression. With a life like that, he makes it feel as if the material writes itself. Overall, a funny evening full of laughs, beer and funny accents.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Regular performers: Simon Buglass. Simon Donald. Dan Willis. Plus nightly guest performers: (tonight): Luke Benson. Kai Humphries. Obie.

Company Credits: Writer - performers. Director - uncredited. Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Free Festival. Website - www.freefestival.co.uk.

END

(c) Carl Livesay 2010

reviewed August 2010 / Laughing Horse @ The Meadows Bar, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com