{COMEDY} Reviews
JERRY SADOWITZ A bloody but cathartic experience ●●●●●
We all know the Jerry Sadowitz schtick by now. A tirade of filth and obscenity screamed into the ether by a curly- haired man in a top hat, usually in a reasonably decent jacket over a scabby T-shirt. Tonight he strolls on stage, his jacket a bold bright green, a rare moment of colour in a show which is as black as a serial killer’s heart. All the hardcore topics of the day are either touched on briefly (Amy Winehouse) or violently manhandled in extreme depth (Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, for whom Sadowitz has dreamed up a series of elaborate and stomach-churning punishments). He even gives Greenwich Mean Time a right old kicking. The New Jersey-born comic-magician hates Nazis,
isn’t too keen on liberals, Aberdonians, women and gays, but mostly he struggles to get on with himself. The relentless jakey-like outpourings of loathing might be the only way he can get this stuff out of his head. As he readily admits, the audience wants to hear his views and observations on Madeleine McCann and Milly Dowler almost as much as he wants to air them.
Perhaps Sadowitz is frustrated that he’s akin to a
performing monkey, with liberal intellectuals and Record readers all as one, diving up the baronial steps of the Assembly Hall to see what crazy shit Jerry will throw at us now. Or maybe, more likely, he’s at a stage in his career (not even Five will put him on TV now) where actually he just can’t be bothered to give a fuck. When you break if all down, an hour with Jerry Sadowitz is torment, catharsis and blood. A compelling performer and uncompromising talent, you might not like what he says, but you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that when he disappears behind that curtain, at least you can escape from it all. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Assembly Hall, 623 3030, until 14 Aug, 9pm, £16.50–£19.50 (£15.50–£18.50).
KATHERINE RYAN An edgy story of pageant culture ●●●●●
LAURENCE CLARK Uncovering the truths about US health care ●●●●● MY NAME IS HANNIBAL Intelligent dissections of comedy and life ●●●●●
L A V I T S E F
When Katherine Ryan is stopped in her tracks on hearing that someone in the audience has relatives in her very small Canadian home town of Sarnia, it marks a first for her Fringe debut show. There seems very little that will get in the way of this stage dynamo, whether it’s achieving her dreams at the Pleasance or in the outside world, not even the hairy man who puts his arm up and whoops at every question she asks of her crowd, no matter how improbable or inappropriate.
Given the content of the show, it seems she gets her forthright attitude from her (‘hot’) mum, who thrust her into an early showbiz spotlight by entering her for pageants, despite the strength of competition. Through songs, chatty stand-up and a surprise finale, Ryan pieces together a story of chasing dreams, no matter how impossible they might seem.
At this early viewing, there are more than a fair share of rough edges that need to be quickly smoothed out before the show’s quality does its creator justice. But once in full flight, Katherine Ryan will be a compelling act. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 15), 10.55pm, £8–£9.50 (£7–£8.50).
48 THE LIST 11–18 Aug 2011
Laurence Clark takes you beyond the realm of conventional stand-up comedy for this informative look at his life with cerebral palsy. Clark’s ability to put a light-hearted spin on subject matter ranging from social attitudes towards those with disabilities to the deeply flawed American health system, is a testament to his skills as a comedic writer. Health Hazard! fully justifies his two-year absence from the Festival while travelling stateside on a mission to uncover the truths behind a privatised health system and the repercussions it would have for himself and others, were it to be introduced in Britain.
Using video footage as a visual aid as well as a point of reference, the audience is shown clips of Clark’s American adventure, where he attempts to promote a socialised health-care system. With an appearance on Channel 4’s Embarrassing
Bodies to go alongside his US ‘business’ venture, Laurence Clark is no stranger to being in front of a camera. And he’s there again as this year’s Fringe performance is part of a BBC One documentary to be broadcast in the autumn. (Jamie Cameron) ■ Udderbelly’s Pasture, 0844 545 8252, until 28 Aug (not 16), 6.40pm, £9.50–£11 (£8.50–£10).
Hannibal Buress is halfway through explaining that yes, that’s his real name, when a heckler pipes up and questions him on it anyway. ‘Why you gonna do that, man?’ Buress responds. ‘Why you gonna repeat back to me what I just said? What do you get out of that?’
The response is indicative of Buress’ style. Rather
than treat the heckler to a dose of humiliation or outright profanity, Buress makes inquiries, taking a scientific approach and working to discover the psychological root of the problem. He gets laughs not by making obvious observations but by deconstructing the situations he describes, whether it’s wanting to be a hero on the subway for non- altruistic reasons, dealing with ‘diversity’ in amateur student journalism or loving apple juice to the extent that it makes him oblivious to racism. It’s not for everyone – the heckler leaves halfway through – but it should appeal to those who like a little thought put into their comedy. Plus, the Disney- baiting subtitle for the show (The Hannibal Montanabal Experience) is one of the best at the Fringe, if a little misleading. (Niki Boyle) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug (not 15), 9.45pm, £10-£11.50 (£9-£10.50).