Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Eric Davidson’s been performing his musical/stand-up/poetry on the Fringe for years, building up a devoted local following, if largely overlooked by the wider comedy world. 

With less competition in the depleted 2021 programme, his profile is automatically given a boost. Is this the time to reveal his hidden genius?

Well, yes and no. Thunderjab 3 kicks off with a powerfully plaintive a capella song about the ravages of coronavirus and the failings of our politicians that’s in the best traditions of the folk protest song and ends with a heartfelt poem about a Covid funeral that packs a punch.

In between, when comedy is at the fore, it’s a patchier prospect, rather too reliant on ukulele-backed parodies of songs that were hits half a century ago.

I’m sure people have been singing Dedicated Follower Of Fascism to the Kinks’ fashion-based song since it was released in 1965, and changing the last word of Abba’s Thank You For The Music (1977) to Covid is hardly inspired, though the tune is so catchy you will be humming it as you leave the theatre. Yet he is more imaginative in making More Than A Woman (1977) about Matt Hancock’s wandering hands, with strong, pointed gags that go beyond just swapping the lyrics.

Davidson’s clearly angry at the government, and he’s never far from calling Boris Johnson a liar. The outrage about Joanna Lumley travel shows, Paul O’Grady dog shows and the hack irritant of people posting photos of food on social media is more manufactured, but he still builds up a head of steam.

Much of this is exaggerated comic ranting, though he often puts a surreal twist on things, with mixed results. The diatribe against TV chefs zings by comparing their pretentious dishes with his uncle’s life-changing creation: a deep-fried Mars bar with Buckfast in the batter. But I’m not sure there’s much to be done to make jokes about Allen keys and flat-pack furniture shine.

In his poems, he has the tight scat delivery of a Scottish John Cooper Clarke, the words given extra impact from being packed so densely. His more inventive content owes a debt to Liverpudlian poets The Scaffold, too, for those old enough to get that reference. 

It looks like most of his audience are of such vintage – and they are delighted with this impassioned mix of politics, absurdity and observation. Davidson’s niche is assured.

• Eric Davidson: Thunderjab 3 is at TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall at 9.10pm until August 28 (not 22)

Review date: 12 Aug 2021
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall