Who knew that bartending could be so interesting? In his debut show at the Fringe, Chris Betts, a Canadian comic with what can only be described as a beard to die for (which you can’t touch), relates what he’s seen and learnt from the drunk human race after 13 years of working behind a bar. Judging from the sheer breadth and diversity of his material, he’s pretty much seen it all, convincing you by the end that bartending should be a mandatory rite of passage.
Due to his commitment, in a show of flaws, it’s the gems in Social Animal and Betts’ natural comedic touch that shine through in the end.
However his ability to convince is probably the main problem with Betts’ show. By seeing humanity through this drunken filter, Betts has formed several amusing opinions, many of which he relates during his show. His weakness however is that they are often no more than amusing, leaving you more likely to nod in agreement rather than split your sides laughing. This , combined with several jokes which Betts commits too much time to, make for some uneven moments in his show.
Yet despite this, Betts is still able to hold your attention, making you chuckle regularly. His observations are original and relatable and his undeniable skill for metaphors and smart one liners, sprayed throughout his whole set, make up for some of his longer stories which don’t quite hit the mark. The more quirky sections of his show are also fantastic; whether it’s him reading toilet graffiti that’s he’s collected over the years or his so-called “impressions”, these short skits often turn out to be the most impressive parts of his shows and the parts you feel he should embrace more.
Because of the positive aspects within his work the show can prove to be frustrating at times, especially the ending, which after some build up seems irrelevant and flat. However due to his commitment, in a show of flaws, it’s the gems in Social Animal and Betts’ natural comedic touch that shine through in the end.
