Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

A bit of a Fringe oddity this: far more a straightforward tribute to Terry Pratchett than a comedy show in its own right (and nor is it a magic show inspired by the Discworld author’s work, lest you take that from the title).

Marc Burrows’s passion for the leading fantasy writer of his generation is beyond reproach, and this is an enthusiastic and convincing argument as to why he’s such an inspirational figure. You don’t have to share Burrows’s devotion to Pratchett to enjoy the show, but if you don’t, some of his ardour will surely Rub off as he’s such a persuasive and eloquent orator.

He shares some of Pratchett’s background, how he started out as a reporter on local newspapers and gradually forged his image as ‘the man in black’, complete with trademark fedora, as his wiring career took off. Unsurprisingly, the power of storytelling is what the author believed in, and his distinctive look was part of the enduring idea of telling his own tale rather than having a narrative imposed on him.

Burrows – who wrote the first biography of Pratchett, as he likes to remind us – has some fun with the story himself, with a few gags and a masterful moment of misdirection. And he defends the fantasy genre against the critical sneering that it’s just for nerdy virgins – as depicted in a viciously snobby TV clip.

Whatever Burrows has to say, all the best lines come from Pratchett himself, of course, witty and profound, sometimes both – but also sometimes neither; he wasn’t above a crude bum joke – as we are invited to admire the work of someone no longer here. It’s no wonder this show, returning to the Fringe for a second year, has the blessing of the Pratchett estate.

The writer’s life story ends in sadness because of his dementia – although he again tried to control the story by calling it his ‘embuggerance’ – which led to his advocacy for euthanasia, as explored in the powerful and difficult-to-watch 2011 documentary Choosing To Die.

Like his hero, Burrows spins a good yarn, and The Magic Of Pratchett would be an excellent session in a book festival or fantasy convention. But its documentary nature and reliance on already existing content make it an odd fit amid all the original shows in the comedy section of the Fringe programme – as if that would concern any Pratchett fans who will surely lap this up.

Review date: 12 Aug 2024
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett