A show about shows is not the most original idea there has ever been but Dan Nightingale’s ‘what might have been?’ take on performing in this year’s Edinburgh Fringe provides an amusing anecdotal backdrop to his comedic talents. Dan invites the audience to share in the harried plight of a comedian who has irretrievably committed to the Fringe before realising many months on that he is either incapable of pulling it off, or unwilling to do so.
Dan admits that as a 31 year old bald man he does look remarkably like ‘Dale Winton’s dick;’ he later did his own virtuoso ‘supermarket sweep’ performance of most comedic genres. In providing an early disclaimer he protects himself from vengeful reprisals by other Fringe comedians but does, however, skate exceedingly close to the line in undermining many of the current shows out there.
The Dan you see on the stage is probably the Dan you’d bump into on the street; his easy, elaborate, perhaps ‘camp’ manners are immediately endearing. He performs with obvious relish the role of self-deprecating critic, providing deconstructive post-mortems on his eleven and a half previous shows. His glee and relief in avoiding these potential disasters is highly engaging and coupled with some fantastic observational humour about bread crusts and first-dates, you are further welcomed into the intimate arena of laughter that Dan creates. So intimate in fact, that you feel on first names terms with him.
