Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

You can’t fault Fraser Brown’s ambition in performing a full-length Edinburgh stand-up show while still a student.

But comedy is in this 21-year-old’s blood. He’s obviously seen a lot of stand-ups and absorbed from them what he’s supposed to do.

That means not just covering the usual bases you might expect an open-miccer to do, like paedophilia and gags that use ‘molest-y’ as a punchline, unfortunately, but also moves that normally come from a greater sense of superiority. He slags off more successful acts like Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr and (more affectionately) James Acaster, while occasionally borrowing a tone of voice from Stewart Lee.

When he undermines the comedy techniques such as the Rule of Three or faux spontaneity, or signposts weaknesses in his act, it’s because he knows subverting tropes what all the cool comics do. But that’s an approach that’s as much a trope nowadays as saying: ‘I know what you’re all thinking…’

Much of it seems performative more than genuine, especially the recurring angle of being such a social misfit that stand-up is the only thing he could possibly do in life, however much it makes him miserable – an attitude that would fit better at 41 than at 21.

BUT…

The sort of judgmental arrogance he exudes is weirdly admirable, since an unshakeable confidence in what you’re dong is such an essential comedy tool. And though he’s working in parameters well-established by others, he’s frequently genuinely funny with it, even if he drives a few ideas into the ground.

Brown also speaks loudly to his demographic. The studenty audience he attracts to his late-night slot lap up his material, their response perhaps less coloured by being able to identify all the tricks he’s borrowing.

It all makes him an intriguing prospect. At the moment, he seems to be trying on personas to find one that fits. But his thirst to absorb the craft from other comedians should also help him figure out who he is beyond being an amalgam of his heroes.

Chutzpah and graft are valuable currency in comedy, and Brown has no shortage of either.

• It's Fraser Brown, I'm Afraid is at TheSpace Triplex at 11.10pm until August 27

Review date: 25 Aug 2021
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: TheSpaceTriplex