Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

The term ‘goblin mode’ got some traction in lockdown, referring to the joys of a semi-feral slobbishness. But for Glaswegian stand-up Rosco McClelland it’s almost cultural appropriation, having long embraced the lifestyle.

He positively enjoyed lockdown, not just for having an excuse for indulging his more slovenly tendencies.. He also moved into a bigger house with his girlfriend and – although he doesn’t mention it here – found a sizeable audience of gamers on Twitch.

His hectic hour starts here before ricocheting through various disparate topics, from trying to look a bit less Scottish (it’s not working), to the divisive effects of social media (no way!) to virtual reality porn, where he becomes more interested in the metaverse’s decor than its depravity. 

It’s scattergun, but he’s an endearing guide. Being a ‘cheeky wee thing’ is McClelland’s essence, and he moves briskly across a lot of ground, only loosely connected. Sometimes he likes to take things too far, whether it’s his analogy between gun control and his digestive system’s reaction to satay sauce or his noisy song about two babies in love. The audience don’t come all the way with him on these, but are happy to let him keep enjoying himself.

For the hour is driving by his high-impact delivery, a pedal-to-the-metal ride of free-flowing, livewire energy. It’s something of a surprise to find that he finds comfort in listening to Debussy’s dreamily whimsical Clair De Lune. It’s less of a shock to discover he has ADHD – though somehow it came as news to him. McClelland thus joins the long list of comedians with the condition – but unlike many, he’s reluctant to start medicating, quite liking his messy brain just the way it is.

A soundboard enlivens the sparky delivery, providing snatches of songs and audio effects. Nevertheless, it’s a pared-down version of the tech he had intended to use. With The Hive barely having fresh air, let alone high-speed wifi, such ambitions had to be abandoned. But the simpler presentation also suits his no-nonsense approach to stand-up.

• Rosco McClelland: Goblin Mode is on at Monkey Barrel at The Hive at 9pm

Review date: 25 Aug 2022
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive)