Festival Comedy HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI Laugh-lite Glaswegian gourmet ●●●●●
list.co.uk/festival
During his enforced leave of absence from the BBC, the Scottish Sikh star of The One Show is indulging his fondness for cooking with this culinary-themed comedy show. The simple set-up has Kohli cooking a meal on stage, based on ingredients supplied on the night by members of the audience, while recounting a handful of personal anecdotes (he does mention his current suspension), telling a few jokes and liberally heckling the crowd. Once the meal’s cooked, the show ends with the chef inviting members of the audience up on stage to taste the dish.
It’s a recipe that worked well enough for another celebrity chef (The Galloping Gourmet aka Graham Kerr, the New Zealand-based Scottish star of 1970s afternoon TV), and Kohli’s pretty relaxed with it. Which is actually the main problem. Impressive enough as it is to watch Kohli cook tonight’s plum curry (?!) while blethering about his childhood, family, the Beeb, racism and homosexuality, the casual attitude doesn’t make for a particularly funny show. Still, his plums apparently tasted good. (Miles Fielder) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 31 Aug, 7pm, £11–£12 (£10–£11).
JASON COOK The Geordie’s honest approach falls short with Fear ●●●●●
Anyone familiar with Jason Cook’s routines knows that he likes to produce heart-warming comedy with an emotional kick. Since 2007’s My
PUPPETS Rounding up the best acts made of socks, sponges and foam
Puppetry acts are the black sheep of the performing arts family: indulged but not held in serious regard. Shitty Deal Puppet Theatre Company’s Oh! What a Shitty War (●●●●●) recounts the history of warfare with hand puppets. Mistaking the charmingly homemade for a pile of old tat, the politics are juvenile and the only good bits are nicked from Team America: World Police. Meanwhile, Puppet Grinder Cabaret (●●●●●) promises anarchic, inventive and adult ventriloquism, puppetry and short films but the acts are uninspired, with the sole exception of a papier-mâché stripper. The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Goes to
Hollywood (●●●●●) with the mouthy socks’ now familiar blend of songs, bickering and topical gags bent around the theme of film genres to a solidly commercial result. Also proving that a family outcast can surpass expectations and turn a quick buck is Paul Zerdin: Sponge Fest (●●●●●). With excellent
ventriloquism skills and a range of mischievous puppet characters, this Royal Variety Show staple offers dependable laughs to anyone who thinks Britain’s Got Talent is a worthwhile way to spend a Saturday evening. At the opposite end of the taste spectrum is Randy’s Postcards from Purgatory (●●●●●), the foul-mouthed saving grace of the much-maligned puppet fraternity. Randy is an alcoholic children’s entertainer in the midst of a break-up. A loveable loser in the style of John Cusack from High Fidelity, he narrates a self- deprecating tale leavened by musical numbers and made poignant by an affectingly honest delivery. The comedy on its own is of a high standard, so the fact that it’s delivered by an expertly manipulated puppet adds an extra layer of awe. Operated by Heath McIvor (of the excellent Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams), Randy proves that performers made of foam can give their human counterparts a run for their money, although they may need a hand to succeed. (Suzanne Black) ■ See edfringe.com for full details
Confessions and last year’s Joy, the brutally honest approach has been a refreshing departure in the scene, especially coming from an affable and chatty Geordie with slightly silly hair. It’s the same for this year’s Fear, in which Cook bonds with his audience over various phobias, from spiders to odd numbers, and adds anecdotal evidence of his own. That his own show was robbed of its climax by
Cook’s fear of heights is an irony he plays for good laughs, but the actual ending, which pales in comparison, is definitely in need of something extra. Cook goes for a meaningful dénouement, but this time it just seems contrived.
Fear is a pleasurable hour with a very likeable comic, and again Cook reveals personal details which other performers would shy away from and
hints at deeper levels yet to be explored. But for a show with the message of ‘don’t be afraid’, it seems that Cook is holding something back. (Emma Lennox) ■ The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 30 Aug, 1.20pm, £7 (£6). for GLASGOW COMEDY see non-Festival magazine
24 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 20–27 Aug 2009