Reginald D Hunter is back at the Fringe this year with his latest show No Country for Grown Men. Cue 11.15pm (or more like 11.30pm once the audience were seated and wed patiently sat in our seats for five minutes) and Regs rant began. The main point of the show was putting down anything British and for the most part he made both us and our political hierarchy sound like utter numpties! It is hard not to like an American wholl quite openly admit to not getting irony or sarcasm until three weeks after hed heard it, or put words into our mouths about the minority ruling our lives. He also managed to amuse us with some top tips not all black people are cool, ok! being a particularly memorable one.
What made me warm to Reginald even more was his disillusionment with the US he didnt go for the cheap gags here (although it must be said that he like almost every other comedy act at this festival managed to find a way of referring to Barack Obama as tall!) but made some very valid points about Hurricane Katrina that touched everyone, even those who walked into the Pleasance Grand expecting something far more below the belt.
The major problems with this show though are both its length, it actually runs for less than 45 minutes leaving the paying audience feeling slightly short-changed, and the great lengths at which he tried to stick to his title almost in an attempt to justify it. There were continual references to grown men and at times I just wanted to tell him to loosen up ironic for a performer who is clearly so natural on stage and holds the audience to every last syllable.
However, the show is full of fascinating views, great put-downs and some of the most inventive comedy youll see on the Fringe. Its well worth a watch, particularly if a hurricane as bad as Katrina hits again Reg was honest enough to admit that hes only one big thunderstorm away from sucking cock for potatoes. Lap him up while you can!
