Graham Whistler's show from last year's Fringe returns, again mainly focusing on his cerebral palsy. While he has some interesting points to make about disabled people and how society responds to them, this is not particularly original. However, some of Whistler’s comments are funny, such as calling his special needs armband at Thorpe Park his VIP pass and the terrified response he sometimes gets.
Moving away a bit from disability issues, Whistler performs a song he’d written at school. It is an ode to his PS2 and the whole thing is quite depressing, but then he puts on a Bob Dylan impression, which is delightful, as is the observation that a Bob Dylan impression that goes too far comes out as Cartman from South Park.
Whistler particularly has a knack for conjuring up mental images, which is a sign of a really good storyteller. He also comes across as a likeable fellow, which makes it easy to listen to him. He has an unfortunate habit of inserting the word ‘good’ into every sentence, making him come across as poorly prepared and nervous, but his overall message is a positive one. Particularly lovely was the suggestion that we make a sort of quilt of best bits of world religions.
This show is not bad for a performer who has only recently started doing stand-up full time. Graham Whistler certainly has the potential for really good comedy, but he would benefit from diversifying his subject matter and tightening his delivery.
