one4review | On 08, Aug 2023

It has been four years since JJ Whitehead performed at the Fringe and it was a pleasure to see him back on an Edinburgh stage this year.

Whitehead made his first appearance way back in 1999, so he has a multitude of experience to draw on, and also with the 4-year break, a host of experiences and stories to relate, and given his classy writing and laid back delivery style it was certainly a given that he would go down well. And would be packed with laughs too.

The audience wasn’t huge and well scattered in the venue, but he was inclusive, yet non-threatening in anyway.

JJ is Canadian, from Nova Scotia, had previously lived in the UK for years, and now resides in Hollywood, but is at pains to point out it is not all glitz and glamour, a point he illustrates with a story or two about his gym there. His material relates to all three domiciles, UK TV, he has an idea for a follow-up , shopping with his parents on a trip back home, dating in California, bad choices made during lockdown and star birthdays all feature prominently in his hour.

The audience were with him all the way, it would have been good for all concerned had it been a bigger one, yet I’m sure the numbers will grow as the month goes on.

****

Reviewed by Geoff

The Stand’s New Town Theatre Studio

16.20 to 17.20

Until 27^th August ((not 15^th)