Edinburgh Fringe review by Alex Bruce

Infinite Content is a fantastic physical representation of the internet and the questionable modern behaviours that have sprung up around it. It is a silly, weird, inane and playful technological commentary that’s hilarious and thought-provoking, but there’s more to it than that.

Luke Rollason’s  show feels like temporary relief from life, breathing space from the world. An opportunity to be child-like and rediscover the atemporal experience of ‘play’, for its own sake.

If comedy is (or seems to be) this randomly surreal, it must be incredibly funny to justify its position, and Infinite Content absolutely is. It’s an exemplary show of its kind, and perfectly achieves what shows like this are aiming at. Many miss the mark, but this one nails it.

Rollason is incredibly silly, with the creativity to match. His ideas play in the space between the online and physical worlds, and every idea, scene or sketch finds unexpected twists and observations to hammer home the absurdity of our increasingly non-consensual technological interactions.

His assistant, ‘green screen guy’ is worthy of note, plus his technical team who provide the essential, part-futuristic-part-throwback elements that make the show what it is. He’s also blessed with naturally funny audience members today, amplified by his skill and experience in predicting their responses several moves ahead.

He explores Amazon deliveries, the concept of ‘entering the internet’, playing Minesweeper, a laser maze, and a premium content section only for those who paid enough, which is also groundwork for a fantastic later gag. 

These are not the throwaway skits they sound, though, they’re far better in both humour and meaning. To generate joyous, silly laughter is one thing, and to be thought-provoking is another, but to do both simultaneously is an achievement.

The audience are genuinely surprised by the punches, twists and props and are hooked to see what happens next, even towards the end of the hour. They don’t want the show to end even if insanity would come quickly if the world of Rollason’s Infinite Content was your reality. 

However, one of the points of the show is that reality is heading this way. The main point, though, is the pure, unbridled, laugh-out-loud silliness that feels like a welcome bolt of relief to all of us confused and trapped by the accelerating technological age.

Review date: 19 Aug 2019
Reviewed by: Alex Bruce
Reviewed at: Monkey Barrel Comedy Club