Boothby Graffoe, the only comedian named after a Lincolnshire village, is a Fringe comedy institution. Over the years his surreal humour, often accompanied by his guitar, has held some the toughest audiences captivated.
With such a strong pedigree, why doesnt his collaboration with musician Nick Pynn work? Its not the venue, The Stand, a full time Edinburgh laugh emporium, with a great atmosphere and very professional staff. Nick Pynn is clearly a very talented musician, and his raised eyebrows and gentle manner raise a giggle from the crowd. The audience desperately want it to work, and the affection greeting the intensely likable Graffoe is obvious. But Boothby appears under-rehearsed, and where he sometimes used to come across as endearingly scatterbrained, his wandering Pythoneseque conversations with himself now seem to be covering a lack of preparation.
There are some potential gems in the show. A trip on a Ghost train with his daughter and buttering his cats paws should have the audience crying with laughter, but tail off prematurely.
The only time he seems really comfortable is at the end when he and Nick play some older material at the crowds request. You are left hoping that Boothby finishes the development of the newer material and gets back to his old heights.
