Ben Norris faced a tough task in The Liquid Room, performing to an audience that didn’t quite give the credit that his material deserved. Being the first night, it unsurprisingly felt a little disjointed, but the majority of what was on show displayed Norris' strong eye for comedy with some entertaining gags.
There were many attempts at audience interaction, but none really paid off. Many audience members refused to even converse.
He opens by sharing the issues he faces as the father of triplets, with some black comedy creeping in. There is greater strength in his longer jokes which are clearly well-crafted and often on topics that we can all identify with. A classic was his interpretation of why we are never in when parcels are delivered, and the ensuing odyssey to retrieve the package. Other topics proved a hit too, such as the humourous condemnation of Japanese whaling.
There were many attempts at audience interaction, but none really paid off. Many audience members refused to even converse, and his occasional harshness led to a hint of alienation with the audience. There was no real attempt at an overarching theme or any links between the sections which would have enhanced the show. But there are many good bits, which are well delivered, and for a Free Fringe gig this is worth a watch.
