list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL COMEDY
PHIL ELLIS IS READY FOR THE BIG TIME Not as chaotic and stupid as it looks ●●●●●
Phil Ellis thinks he has the formula to make it big, with his mix of stories, magic and sadness surely set to send him rocketing to the next level. In reality, the Funz and Gamez guy’s show parodies the concept of ‘big time’ comedians purposefully doing almost the exact opposite.
The stories are all depressing or pointless (a dead neighbour or running over a badger). A member of the audience is in charge of the backing track with Ellis changing the tone and pace of his material to match the music. Adding in a death-driven game show, some awful magic and an inappropriate book club, there’s a desperation and self-flagellating sense of humour which somehow manages to land nearly every joke. It looks chaotic and stupid but it’s incredibly clever,
with material that shares the same astute grasp of the mechanics of comedy as Stewart Lee or Richard Gadd. A show like this can only work live and exist in the moment, and it builds up to perhaps the most audacious finale at this year’s Fringe. It’s too manic and weird for TV, but Phil Ellis does deserve the big time. Cracked genius from start to finish. (Henry Northmore) ■ Heroes @ The Hive, until 26 Aug (not 15), 7.40pm, £5 (£3.50) or donations at the venue.
TOM HOUGHTON: THE HONOURABLE Upper-class fun from cheeky stand-up ●●●●● PROM KWEEN Musical parody tackles gender fluidity ●●●●●
The Honourable is not just a playful show name: ever since Tom Houghton’s father became a lord, it is in fact the stand-up’s official title. Houghton lives in the actual Tower of London and was labelled last year as ‘the next Jack Whitehall’; this is most definitely upper-class comedy. But even though he inhabits a world where horses and Land Rovers are just regular possessions, his material remains relatable as it revolves around family. Houghton is a brilliant storyteller, with extended
anecdotes about accompanying his dad to the House of Lords for the first time and his little sister’s early embrace of goth culture at boarding school. Through energetic physicality and character turns, he brings the stories vividly to life, hunched over as a geriatric lord and scuttling about as a demonic child. A brief mention of guns is the only time he teeters on the edge of topical political debate, but honesty about both growing up as the son of an over-achiever and how privilege doesn’t stop you seriously messing up adds emotional depth to this relaxed and well- honed hour of easy laughter. Honourable or not, Houghton’s confident cheekiness seems an obvious fit for the TV panel show market. (Rowena McIntosh) ■ Pleasance Dome, until 26 Aug, 8.10pm, £8–£10 (£7–£9).
Prom Kween is a High School Musical spoof with a difference, employing clever satirical elements to share a central message of tolerance and acceptance. Inspired by the true story of non-binary student Matthew Crisson who, in 2016, made headlines for being crowned prom queen at his high school in New York, the show is a colourful and sequinned romp through pop culture with sassy songs and plenty of glitter.
The musical numbers are both silly and smart in their structure, with the ensemble cast excellently playing a range of characters from mean girl Lexi to handsome jock Trey. But there is an important and underlying theme of otherness that connects every piece of narration, with four performers each taking on the role of Matthew at various points to emphasise gender fluidity and play with stereotypes.
The sharp criticism of society is balanced well with Prom Kween’s camp comedy and gentle mocking of familiar teenage tropes. With RuPaul as the story’s fairy godmother figure, and ‘cameos’ from Cher, Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John along the way, the musical channels the magic of Drag Race, while fiercely dissecting society’s need to conform. (Arusa Qureshi) ■ Assembly George Square Gardens, until 26 Aug, 9.05pm, £13–£14 (£12–£13).
P H O T O :
B R A N D O N B S H O P
I
IMRAN YUSUF: SAINT, SINNER, SUFI Tackling the big issues in quickfire speed ●●●●●
Finding a lump downstairs (as in the trouser department, not the living room) has made Imran Yusuf evaluate his life so far. Has he really done enough in his 38 years? He initially came to critical attention with his first solo show, An Audience With Imran Yusuf, which garnered an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination for Best Newcomer in 2010, with its musings largely covering his Muslim background. He has talked about that subject in later shows, but this year he
reckons he’s had enough of defending himself, his faith and his culture, feeling that Muslims are still ‘sitting at the bottom of the table and could be relegated at any time’. Despite his assertion, he does tackle being a Muslim to a
degree as well as a hell of a lot of common-sense observations about racial harmony too. If it does turn out that he’s only got a few months left to live, he’s decided that he ought to address some of the fundamental aspects of his life and of British society: prejudice, spirituality, love and finally finding his confidence.
If you can’t imagine that he could fit all that into one hour then presumably you’ve never seen Yusuf perform live. His material is so quickfire that you feel as though you should go back for a second time in case there was something you missed. He takes on these big issues by employing an intelligent, informed and reasonable response. And he brings a humble, centred and realistic response to his own life too. He’s resigned to the fact that he can’t continue to see the girl he loves because her family won’t accept him while he ponders the forgiveness he offers his abusive father. And yet despite the weighty topics, the gags come thick and fast. This is thought-provoking stuff. (Marissa Burgess) ■ The Stand’s New Town Theatre, until 26 Aug (not 20), 5.30pm, £10 (£9).
15–27 Aug 2018 THE LIST FESTIVAL 55