Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Wearing a football shirt bedazzled with rhinestones, Mark Bittlestone says he’s what’s known in the industry as ’a little gay boy’. He’s got a vast army of followers on social media, and he uses his first Fringe hour to talk about, well, being gay.

More specifically, it’s a light-hearted collection of stories about what he did to overcome loneliness after coming out. He’s got an entertaining story about how much he denied responsibility for the online evidence of his curiosity while living with his parents, and who got the blame for that.

He also talks us through some of the things he did to put himself out there after the pandemic. We hear some fun tales about interactions on Grindr – as well as an amusing sexual escapade that quickly turned into something more worrying – and comical knee-tremblers at colourfully named gay raves. He’s got an easy, friendly way about him with these anecdotes, and the confidence of someone with a proven online audience for his brand of observations.

There’s a serious note in the proceedings, during which he touches upon internalised homophobia, and although there’s lots in here that absolutely needs to be said, something about this tone shift feels a little jarring. Perhaps it would feel more authentic or natural if he built up to it more carefully, working it up to something more powerful towards the end.

On this particular night, a bit more sensitivity towards one audience member wouldn’t go amiss (not everyone’s coming-out story will be joyful, and he needs to know how to cut his losses without referring to someone as a crowd work ‘dead end’).

The charm of this show lies more in Bittlestone’s storytelling and charm than his jokes, but he’s got a lot of potential and a loving audience who will be willing more from him.

Review date: 24 Aug 2024
Reviewed by: Ashley Davies
Reviewed at: Pleasance Dome