The world is out to get Garrett Millerick. That’s what he’d have us believe in this one-man show; that estate agents, Americans, the elderly and the technologically-minded are all in their own special way putting aside time from their day to mess up his life. All find themselves at the centre of his verbal crosshairs as Millerick wends from one subject to another in an hour of acerbic, acidic stand-up comedy.
To an extent, Millerick’s act largely follows the standard template for misanthropic stand-up acts - one guy wearing an old suit talking about how society is out to mess with him. After a slow start with funny but unoriginal material about smartphones and technology, Millerick found a consistently fine form with his ranging, witty delivery.
Whilst the embittered comic persona has been played to death in the past by performers like Doug Stanhope and Stewart Lee, Millerick does inject enough fresh energy into the act to keep it interesting. He’s especially funny when he threatens to cross the line into politically incorrect territory; sections of the show on pensioners and the NHS were particularly well-honed and smartly aimed.
The show itself is largely a series of shaggy dog stories and witty, angry rants. Blending the bitter with the confessional, Millerick manages to come across as a nice chap simply beset by a series of unfortunate (and irritating) events. At his best, he lets loose on ‘lad’ culture in a brilliantly poised, furious comedy set piece.
Millerick is a funny and likable presence on stage, but it’s hard to see how a comic acting out the familiar role of reluctant misanthrope can stand out against the multitude of comedy acts at the Fringe.
