Review by Steve Bennett

Andrew McClelland has always had something of the air of the Edwardian gentlemen adventurer about him – albeit one perpetually being driven to the verge of debilitating laughter through being tickled with a wet haddock – so it’s no surprise that he’s turned his comic attentions to what it actually means to be a gentleman in today’s mixed-up world.

He fears the term has unfortunate connotations – but under his modern interpretation, the Terry-Thomas cad is out, while OutKast’s Andre 3000 is in: a civilised, immaculately stylish and creative renaissance man – but still with an eye for the ladies.

So, over the course of these 60 minutes, he outlines all the social etiquette, courting procedures and fashion advice the modern chap needs – and, yes, it does include cravats – in the form of a light-hearted lecture, with music-hall-style title cards elegantly announcing each educational chapter.

This is rather a static, linear framework for such an animated performer, and it doesn’t quite suit him. He remains, as always, an engagingly eccentric host, full of enthusiasm but out of step with modern life – think a benign Boris Johnson – but he doesn’t seem quite as infectiously effusive as usual. The subject matter is also rather too straightforward for too many real surprises.

Even so, he still persuades the entire audience to lick the back of their own wrists (don’t ask) and make their own cravats – even though his appeals for the applause to be punctuated with shouts of ‘Hazaar’ or ‘Bravo’ seem to fall, unfortunately, on deaf ears. We are introduced, too, to the stoic chicken and hear the tale of the shock the world’s first top hat had on the delicate inhabitants of 18th Century London.

Such entertaining distractions, and McClelland’s always winning personality ensure this is as jolly an hour of inconsequential frippery as you’ll find.

Though he doesn’t seem old enough, McClelland has been performing at this festival for a decade – and has four Edinburghs under his belt. This isn’t his best show of the lot, but still easily deserves two hazaars (out of three).

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

Review date: 3 Apr 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett