Fringe review: The Best of the Edinburgh Fringe
Adelaide Fringe
Three of the best comedians from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival roused a small crowd in a large tent to laughter – with one obvious standout performer. ★★★
Maybe it was the unusually chilly weather or some other factor that kept the crowd just five-and-a-half rows deep in the Umbrella Factory big top at the Best of the Edinburgh Fest last night.
Without the advantages of the intimacy offered by a small venue or the buzzing atmosphere created by a large one packed with people, UK comedians Ian Smith, Markus Birdman and Maisie Adam still made it work.
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Smith peppered the audience with questions to fuel much of his material, harvesting sarcastic reflections on a local chicken nugget food truck (Nugg Lyf) and confusion over Australian slang.
He was at his best when observing the bizarre nature of our collective relationship with Netflix.
Birdman recounted travelling to countries formally colonised by Britain, noting, as a Brit, how convenient it is that the people of those countries all speak English.
His observations on how attitudes to porn and politics divide along generational lines drew strong reactions from the audience, as did a self-consciously offensive joke about suicide.
But Adam was the sharpest and the quickest of the trio.
She played up the low turnout and roused the crowd to belly-laughter with embarrassing moments from her childhood, and with stories of trying to fool a parent about a house party and making a more-dramatic-than-expected exit after sex.
Ultimately, the trio lit up the Garden of Unearthly Delights venue, delivering a funny and enjoyable showcase that’s worth the price of entry.
Best of the Edinburgh Fringe is in the Garden of Unearthly Delights until March 15.
See more InDaily Fringe and Festival stories and reviews here.
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