Brendon Burns, Udderbelly/Southbank, 15 July 2010

For a few years now Brendon Burns has been one of the circuit's more analytical comedians.  He has an almost academic interest in his profession, in humour and in particular what is or is not offensive.  Following an article in the Guardian newspaper published during the run up to last year's Edinburgh fringel, Burns was very quick to respond robustly.  The article made accusations that a new generation of comedians were simply using comedy to disguise genuine bigotry.  Burns was interviewed and quoted in the article, but thought he was misrepresented and chose to write a full response that was published the next day.  He was clearly riled.

Whether or not tonight's show was intentionally linked to that article and his reply I don't know, but the show I saw inside the purple cow was very much an expansion of those thoughts.  Burns deals with a series of comedy taboos in turn: sexism, racism, paedophilia and religion.  There are both awkward and easy laughs a plenty and there's analysis too, but don't be put off because it's an enjoyable ride.

And I think he really does this from the heart.  He wants you to be offended maybe, but more importantly he wants you to understand that it's comedy and it's OK to laugh as long as you understand that.  As long as you're in on the joke and not simply one of the bullies that he's on a mission to take down.  I think this is different to other comedians with the "offensive" label: Jim Jefferies or Doug Stanhope for example. Although Burns perhaps labours the point at times, overstating that "it's irony" repeatedly.

This is a thoughtful show with a purpose.  There's also a narrative running through which is not really apparent until the final crescendo.  It's well rounded and polished and will certainly be worth checking out in Edinburgh. Particularly if you have found yourself laughing at material and then feeling awkward with yourself as to why you find it funny.  Brendon Burns can set your mind at ease.

Jack Whitehall, Udderbelly/Southbank, 8 July 2010

I have to admit to having not heard of the hugely successful Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson prior to seeing this Edinburgh preview at the Udderbelly/Southbank this evening. I guess I'm just not part of his demographic. However, having attended the Charlie Hartill Comedy Reserve at last year's Edinburgh Fringe, I have previously watched and been wholeheartedly impressed by my choice of comedy entertainment for this evening. I have therefore heard of Jack Whitehall. I think this would please Jack immensely.

Jack devotes much this cathartic hour recounting school-time anecdotes about his fellow pupil and nemesis. Often with the aid of Pattinson's biography, from which Jack recites, interjecting with personal recollections, which unsurprisingly paint a slightly less flattering picture.

This confessional style will be familiar to those who caught Jack's 2009 show, but this didn’t form the strongest material which he delivered this evening. The material seemed a little unfamiliar to him at times and he was I thought slightly thrown by an unfortunate heckle that accidentally revealed a punch line. Still, this is the raison d'être of a preview and I'm sure the central routine will be more than polished come August.

Jack was at his most fluent, confident and downright laugh-out-loud funny during his characterisations. There were several that had me in stitches. One had Jack imagining the scheming of the authors of his old French text book "Tricolor" who were devising content deliberately aimed at keeping les rosbifs away from their favourite parts of France. Jack apologised for being a bit 'Allo 'Allo in style, but it really was more cerebral than that. He has a natural gift for caricature and it really would be a treat to see Jack show this off more, possibly in a theatre production on the Fringe as other stand ups have done -a hint, Jack, for Augusts to come possibly?

Welcome to my Edinburgh Fringe Comedy blog

Welcome to my Edinburgh Fringe Comedy blog. That is to say a blog about comedy that I will see on the Fringe. It's not the blog itself that's supposed to be funny. Well at least not intentionally.

Every year I make my annual pilgrimage up to the Scottish capital. Every year I indulge to excess on funny shows, drinking beer, usually together and sometimes on the inside of shipping containers heated to 90 degrees Celsius. Every year I return home completely unable to recall a single gag.

So this year I am writing it down. Essentially for my own benefit, so that I can re-chuckle at less funny times of the year. But you are welcome to read it too.