*****

Sam Simmons has a passion for putting weirdness into comedy. His powers of imagination, creativity and preparation are awesome. His performance magnificently combines intense physical buffoonery with a very tight script.

This show does have a narrative structure. He comes on to the stage putting on his acting face. He is playing The Man. It is early morning. The weather forecaster comes on the radio and begins relentlessly to narrate the inadequacies of The Man. This plays out as a fast flow of belly laugh humour.

Absurdly comic situations develop. For example, when confronted with a crazy person in the park The Man becomes crazier by covering his face with the slices of ham from his sandwich, the moral being fight crazy with crazy. Despite such antics and a stream of surprises, we are pulled back into the narrative with the story of his crush for Tanya whom he sees on his daily bus journey.

Since this is a theatrical performance, I cannot reveal the ending. Will Tanya become his girlfriend and will he overcome the weather forecaster’s tirade? Discover for yourself.

I first saw Sam Simmons four years ago playing to a half-filled room and some people walked out during the show. Now he is one of the hottest tickets in town with packed houses, and quite rightly so – weird is such fun!

Reviewed by Ben

Gilded Balloon Teviot: 14

1 to 26 August 2012 (not 13)

21.15 – 22.15

Fringe Programme Page Number: 153