The laconic Clark delivers his laid back performance in the belly of the Roxy. He sports a beard that could house a small militia, both sizable yet wispy, giving the impression Clark may sporadically make his home in an underpass. This is Clark’s inaugural adventure to Edinburgh, coming with the endorsement of the Pajama Men, which is not a testimonial to be taken lightly.
Clark ponders life’s temptations; including Pizza Hut’s latest deviation from edible food, the world of meat and those comfort films you watch each time they show on television. He reflects on the separate worlds experienced by drunk Graham and sober Graham. Clark reflects on how in a single gust of wind (and one locked door later) he experienced homelessness, and how quickly one’s fortunes can change when locked outside in one’s shabbiest of get ups. Clark also does death to conventional erotic metaphors with his own brand of home-grown erotica.
Clark has a relaxed and friendly relationship with the audience, giving the impression at times that we were all friends out to dinner together. It was a welcome change to some of the more aggressive demands of audience participation. So accommodating was Clark during this particular performance that he held off delivering the ending of the show until one audience member returned from the lavatory. The conversational nature of the show with regular input from the audience probably ensures that every performance will be unique.
Clark is affable enough, though the show seems like a very loosely related series of anecdotes that never resolves in any particular conclusion or outcome. I found myself wondering where it was all going and was dissatisfied when that never became clearer. Perhaps Edinburgh audiences grow too used to formulaic comedy to appreciate this style appropriately. Clark occasionally seems to be struggling to remember himself where we are up to, and the ‘ums’ are a little too frequent for a top quality performance.
Despite these setbacks, Clark is very genial and one can’t help wishing him well on his Edinburgh run.
