one4review | On 11, Aug 2024

John Luke Roberts starts his show, after a bit of ‘business’ to get his
audience into the mood he needs, by proposing that Edith Piaf regretted
five things.

The show has no storytelling or narrative arc, being fundamentally about
innumerable variations of a world like our own and how they differ in
bizarre or nonsensical ways, which are naturally humorous, insightful
and continually produce laughter. We are treated to comments about
kangaroos, mountaineers, oranges not being the only fruit, bagels, DJs,
Morrissey and mayonnaise. Some set pieces are longer, riffing on
cowboys, hadron colliders and vacuum cleaners. There is a song about
spelling, and why acoustic guitars should be permanently fixed in the
home of their owner, which leads to mention of Ringo Starr but not in
relation to guitars.

Ending with a happy gag before going back to Piaf, he has all the while
delivered skilfully. Callbacks involving responses from an enthusiastic
audience holds the show together, demonstrating that he really does know
his craft. It so well written that the brevity brought to each topic
means it all hangs beautifully together, without any floundering or loss
of focus. Separate humorous thoughts on very disparate and unconnected
themes stack back to back without any sign of one liners.

A lesser comedian would not be able to charm and bring the audience into
this particular world with such confidence. John Luke Roberts delivers
his material with so much energy, belief and enthusiasm that it is hard
not to giggle, guffaw and laugh with delight.

The show is demonstrably great fun for those who relish quick, quirky,
random comedy, and there are few of this style at the Fringe which come
close to ticking those boxes so competently.

*****
Reviewed by HJ
Monkey Barrel 4, Blair Street

14.10 (1 hour)

Until 25th Aug (not 12, 13, 19)