DJ Danny (main picture); Tony Carter, John Shuttleworth, Pam Ann, Gwynn Williams, Bob Doolally, Jeremy Lion and I, Pavel (left to right)
On a role
In 2004, Jackson’s Way proved that sticking on a mask can still be a route to achieving true glory. As a host of fresh personae take to the Fringe, Allan Radcliffe speaks to those creating something of a stir in CHARACTER COMEDY.
one are the days when Fringe comedy was the reserve of the
traditional stand-up. complete with microphone and glass of
water. imparting offbeat observations. swatting aside drunken heckles and pointing out the front row‘s sartorial peccadilloes. Something seems to be stirring in the wild wood of live comedy. and
recent years have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of
performers taking to the Fringe having first donned the protective cloak of a character.
A quick flick through this year‘s programme reveals the full. shocking extent of this phenomenon. Among such familiar character turns as
12 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE rt ‘. 1 Aug 2005;
aspiring pop star John Shuttleworth. inebriated kids‘ entertainer Jeremy Lion. raconteur and arch lush Bob Doolally and Frank llovis (AKA John Sparkes of Absolute/y) jostle a new breed of comedic upstarts. This year. those returning include New Deal comedian 'l‘ony (‘arter (Will Andrews) and bitchy air hostess Pam Ann (Caroline Reid) as well as debuts from 'domestic goddess. (iwynn Williams (Sarah (‘oomes) and Pavel the passionate east liuropean avant garde artist. played by Adam Buxton of The {Ir/um and Joe Show.
The heady eyed will also have noticed that four of the last six Perrier winners (Al Murray: Pub Landlord. Rich Hall as ()tis Lee (‘renshawu Garth Marenghi and last year‘s winner Will Adamsdalc. who found the path to success down Jackson's Way) have been based around inch- perfect comic creations rather than ‘straight' stand—up. So. how to explain this burgeoning vogue for character comedy'.’ For certain of these performers. adopting a role. no matter how close it may be to their own persona. produces far richer material than if they were simply to appear onstage as themselves. Danny Robbins. who makes his Fringe debut this year as the aspirant superstar DJ Danny. found rich comic pickings while fleshing out a character which is based directly on his own experiences.
"l‘he character grew very much out of me.. he says. ‘I was running a club night and had started realising the ridiculousness of a grown man playing his (‘1) collection and thinking he was a talent. In time the character went from just being me telling jokes about DJing to being more fully rounded. I gave him a day job as a teacher and a back story. I quite like that ability to be one step away. Doing 1)] Danny as a character gives me more scope to pass comment on the situation.”