one4review | On 10, Aug 2024

American Coloniser is described as a political comedy show by its creator Sid Singh, who it transpires is an Indian-American lawyer who lives in London and is involved in human rights, standing up for others and fighting oppression.

In the show he talks about American imperialism and then moves on to how his mediocre Indian ancestors helped colonise India before the Brits did, with his great grandfather being a freedom fighter against the Indian Army, but then his grandfather being Head of the Secret Police. Taco Bell features in the story although its relevance is unclear in addition to why it was selected for such special attention.

It was explained to the audience that the moral of the show is that it matters what you do, not your ancestors, which is admirable.

Sid can be very entertaining and funny, so hopefully this show may work much better on other days for other audiences, although it did feel ill conceived, laboured, and (on the first weekend of the festival) just not ready. Perhaps it would have felt more satisfactory if it had been labelled as a Work In Progress, like a number of other shows on the Fringe.

***
Reviewed by HJ
Just the Tonic – Cabaret Voltaire
17.00 (1hr)
Until 25th Aug (not 12)