Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Rich Pulsford reckons there are 170 jokes in his 45-minute show, just under four a minute – which seems about right. That works out at about 3p per punchline if you pay the recommended £5 admission.

The quality might be a bit mixed, but at that price can you really complain? Wordplay – and it is all wordplay –  is generally at the level of decent newspaper headlines, though a fair few exceed that. You’re sure to want to try to remember some of his gags to pass off as your own later…

On the other hand, there are several ‘way-hays’, the odd ‘Jesus’ and  the occasional shaking of heads in response to some of the more convoluted linguist gymnastics he needs to execute to get to the punchline, (and he certainly puts the ‘pun’ into ‘punchline’). But it’s all part of the pantomime of this style of comedy.

Pulsford, who has the reassuringly confident voice of a local radio DJ, delivers with a fairly straight bat, even though his gags usually aim for silly. There’s nothing cruder than a Viagra joke, and nothing political nor personal. Most set-ups are from the everyday, but he’s not beyond a ‘cannibal broke into 10 Downing Street,’ set-up if needed.

It’s a light-hearted session that delivers exactly what’s promised: a LOT of gags.

Review date: 26 Aug 2021
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn