one4review | On 21, Aug 2023

Alzheimer’s is maybe not be the easiest topic to base an Edinburgh hour on, especially when it is the very personal story of the loss of his parents around the Covid lockdowns. Allen however does achieve the balance of relating his story, drawing both emotional reactions and plenty of humour from the experience.
Did you know Steve N Allen had a long-standing gig on the Mash Report? No? I did, but he makes a point of informing everyone, yet balancing it’s lefty feel with stints on GB news to balance the ticket. Steve is a centrist, so gets issues from both sides.
The story of his parent’s demise is caringly related, incidents related to amuse and his new marriage and son also feature heavily in the hour too. He has joy, he has worries, he has hopes and he has a knack of relating what is personal grief to not seem maudlin in anyway. The writing is tight, the delivery spot on and the way of painting images with his words, almost too graphically at times is almost tangible.
Steve N Allen is a performer who deserves to be heard. Don’t let the title dissuade you.
****
Reviewed by Geoff
Gilded Balloon Billiard Room
21.00 to 22.00
Until 28th August