Ed Patrick arrives with fresh comedy that, though tepid in parts, is generally pleasing as the Oxford comic delves into his past to reveal some highly amusing anecdotes relating to the NHS and the practise of medicine.
Admittedly, Patrick suffers from stage fright, and there were moments when his confessed weakness was exposed to us
Patrick is not afraid to poke fun of his Oxford heritage and the snobby, pretentious alumni associated with the UK’s oldest university. More than that, he dispels many myths surrounding doctor lifestyle and dethrones the self-imposed idea of the doctor as a Godlike figure within society. It is this very relatable, very down-to-earth charisma that makes Ed Patrick so appealing.
On several occasions he takes a little long to get to the punch. These fantastic life stories verge upon storytelling than comedy frequently. But the long-winded nature of these jokes pay off in the end and are worth the wait. Dealing with more sombre subjects in the later part of his act, Patrick does what any good doctor should and address the all-important topic of death. Through piquant satire, he skewers the brutal, robotic type of doctor with no shred of dignity. It is here that an interesting proposition is advanced to us by the medical comic: could you be a doctor? Patrick assures us that as long as you are human then the answer is yes.
I wanted to give him another star, but there is something lacking, namely the timing of the delivery and his visible anxiety. Admittedly, Patrick suffers from stage fright, and there were moments when his confessed weakness was exposed to us, where it is plain that he is heavily dependent upon the audience as fuel if he does not earn enough laughs. But, aware of his problem, he manages to turn this into another source of humour that was well received by the audience. And with further exposure to the world of comedy and aid from more seasoned comics, Patrick could rise to be a memorable sensation amongst the Fringe.
