one4review | On 25, Aug 2023

Andy Parsons returns to the Fringe with his new stand up show, Bafflingly Optimistic, after an absence of seventeen years.  It feels like this deserves a much bigger fanfare.  Much has changed in the intervening years and the audience at the Cabaret Bar get to hear Andy’s views on all things topical, political, and well, the general state of the nation. 

This is smart well written comedy.  There are long build ups and much meandering until we get to the carefully set up punch line.

There are the thoughts and observations on all the usual suspects: Boris, Liz Truss, Nigel Farage and even the saintly Sir David Attenborough is not left unscathed.

Andy is an amiable host and keeps us entertained and we even get a bit of an insight into his parenting skills, including trying to explain quantitative easing, cause and effect, to his eleven year old son.

Sharp topical brilliantly observed comedy.

4.5****

Reviewed by Margot
Pleasance Courtyard (Cabaret Bar)
Until 27th at 19:00