Last nights show would become something special and is that water cooler moment are made for. It’s hard to write this review because those of you who where there (and the guys from the Kollective) know that there is only one aspect of the show that could be talked about. And though Joel and Ray did great sets and really got the crowed going even they will admit the night belonged to Ben & El Purnell. This show forms part of the FREE FRINGE.
This was Ben’s last show and after a great warm up by Ray and a manically insane, but gentle, set by Joel, Ben, who seemed ‘there’ took up the second spot.
Ben started off pretty good; jokes about his partner which seemed a little too ‘jokey’ for some reason, he didn’t really have the solid flow that we had from Ray and Joel, and, just before his set started a girl in the front row got up to head to the bar, Ben shouted something and continued with his set. When she came back he asked her if she was comfortable and if she wanted a cushion…so long as the cushion was his cock, which was choice. Then something happened, he got back to his set, but, he had already done that bit. A few people shouted out once we realised, and then Ray shouted that he had done that bit to which Ben stopped and asked what he was saying.
It turned out that Ben was drunk and this was his last show. Ray came and finished his joke for him and Ben continued as best as he could but there was no real point. He didn’t lose the audience and I think he did get a little concerned later on that he had lost us but he hadn’t in fact he had made another comedy show something more worthwhile. That’s one of the issues a comedy festival, and a free one at that, has, the more you see the more you expect and the more you want. Ben’s set woke everyone up and gave us something new, funny, and completely unexpected. Ray sat at the front and next to us laughing just added to the whole thing you got the sense that they where having just as much fun as we were having and that was great to see.
Marcus came and did a few minutes (for reasons stated above) but I would have loved to have seen Ray and Ben do a little sketch or for Ben to just stay there, harsh as it sounds but it was incredibly funny. Lynne Crook also had been the victim of the drink but who gives a fu**, you watched and listened a little bit more clearly because it was just fun and Ray was saying he had done over a dozen shows and this was the funniest one yet so you have to give them this.
But then came El Purnell from Ecuador, who spoke no English. Right now my eyes are watering because am trying hard to remember the set, without question the best character at the Fringe. To come on stage and say he doesn’t speak English was inspired. He worked the room like a true pro with each of his punch lines in English was just unique and closed the evening with such an upbeat feel people left that show on a real high.
It has to be hard for a comics to come and do a show every night, for free, saying the same lines, jokes, and stories but Muck Comedy did two things last night. The First, it showed that comics can have fun and second, even after 20, 30, 40 shows they can create something unexpected and off the chart that will give the 30 or more people in the room an original night. Muck Comedy put on one of the best shows because of this.
Unexpected….unplanned…and one class act **** Four Stars
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