Including some of the newest and brightest stars, you’ll be hard pressed not to enjoy having an early afternoon pint and listening to these entertaining, hilarious and new young comics to get you in the mood for a day at the Fringe.
The lunchtime show I experienced was hosted by Pierre Novellie, part of the fresh talent that has stormed the festival this year, and featured the hilarious Kate Lucas, Fern Brady, Brennan Reece and Kwame Asante. Novellie makes a perfect host, entertaining us between acts with his friendly, likeable and chatty style that made the audience feel comfortable and had us in fits from the off. He flawlessly mocked members of the audience without crossing the line into annoying or intrusive and his improvised, rambunctious observations got us ripe and ready to receive the rest of the comics as the show went on.
Kate Lucas, with her comfortable and low-key patter, dry irony and satirical songs provided something a bit different to start. Don’t be fooled by her sweet, mild persona because behind it lays a razor sharp wit and a darkly comic mind. Her lines were served up with wry sarcasm and excellently straight delivery that complemented her darkly comic lyrics perfectly. She got some uncomfortable laughs when she pushed her material to the edge of decency, but that’s part of her dark charm. Sharp intakes of breath from some audience members accompanied howling laughter from others, this is a comic who clearly splits opinion.Fern Brady is another comic that is not afraid of the dirty, dark or ‘inappropriate’. In her gruff, Scottish accent she tells us of drunken antics, loneliness and sex with refreshing candidness. She’s certainly dangerous and cynical, and when she’s being natural and rolling her eyes at the world, she can be hilarious but some of her material is clearly just attempting to shock the audience, which gets old quite quickly.
Brennan Reece’s amiable stage persona changed the pace of the afternoon with some more upbeat material. This cheeky chappy’s slow, considered style was refreshing and different but his flow sometimes became a bit stilted. Smiley, young and relaxed, Reece’s calculated awkwardness was received well by the crowd. Although he started a little tentatively, once he’d warmed up, he had the audience laughing away with him.
Kwame Asante was the final act of the afternoon and had the audience roaring from the very beginning. This award-winning student comic is quickly becoming the next big thing and was a perfect way to round off an afternoon of up and comers. His relaxed tone automatically relaxes the audience, he lolls about the stage giggling along and making everyone feel at ease. From his childhood in Kent, to his fear of flying, to facebook embarrassments, this natural comic’s observations on everyday life are witty, quick and expertly delivered. Relatable and chilled out to the max, he’s a likeable and very talented comedian.
