one4review | On 18, Aug 2013

This is the ninth year of the Pleasance’s Comedy Reserve, supported by the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund and is a showcase for 4 young comedians to strut their stuff during each Fringe. Those selected this year are Jack Barry, John Hastings, Tez Ilyas and Tom Toal.

On a strangely subdued Friday night our host for the night was Tez Iylas and I have to admit I expected a more high energy approach from a compere. He tried to whip up enthusiasm but when he initially failed to excite seemed to lose heart a little.

Ton Toal is a guy I have seen a couple of times over the last Fringe or two, and yes the guy is funny and has a unique delivery style that went down well. If I had a slight gripe I had heard most of his set in previous shows, but to an audience who was new to him he went down well.

Jack Barry followed and certainly did okay. His demeanour was positive and the material of a pretty good standard. Kinder eggs, dogs who smell out diseases and typing into Google where stopping off points along the way.

Final act Canadian John Hastings really grabbed the gig by the scruff of the neck and shook it into life. The guy oozed confidence and had a wide range of material generating laughs a plenty along the way. I could certainly have listened for longer than his allotted time.

***

Reviewed by Geoff

Pleasance JackDome

Until 26 August

21.30 to 22.30