a fantastically polished debut show, packed with content and hilarity,
Rohan Sharma is in a state of disconnection. In this fast-paced multimedia-laced debut, we’re taken on a whistlestop tour through areas of his internal conflict with unexpected and hilarious results.
The self-proclaimed Mad Dog sets the scene early with a quick quiz to determine if a crowd member is racist, before diving into his material. We whip through topics such as British food, sex appeal of money, Madame Tussauds, and an intriguing politician his mother encountered in Beaconsfield – Colonel Gaddaffi. We also have Dan the tech, chipping in with his own brand of comedy on occasion, and the founding of a new investment opportunity, as well as the perils of oppression vs privilege, and the thorny topic of finding love. The gags come thick and fast, accompanied by copious laughter, and the PowerPoint use is fresh and fun, without being overused.
This is a well-crafted show, and the pace is kept up throughout – there’s some lovely visual gags, particularly where Rohan’s called out for some ‘emotional truths’ by Dan, and the series of apologies that follows, which skewer some of the comedy show tropes. Not all of the punchlines land quite as Rohan expects, but there’s a general good natured fun to it all that it all works anyway. Similarly, at times the backing music felt a touch too loud, but might just be my seat on the night.
What really elevates this show above what could be just a good fun hour, is Rohan addressing the fact that he’s not focusing on topics that he would be expected to focus on for a ‘successful’ Fringe show – there’s a lack of trauma or racism he’s encountered. He’s authentic to his own self and what matters to him – namely finding love, and a mild obsession with that aforementioned dictator. I won’t include any spoilers about what these entail, but there are delightful curveballs and looping callbacks peppered throughout, in a highly satisfying way.
This is a fantastically polished debut show, packed with content and hilarity, and sure to cement Rohan as a comedian to keep an eye on in the months and years to come.
Rohan Sharma: Mad Dog runs until 24 August, at 19:10 at Pleasance Courtyard, Below. Tickets can be bought from: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rohan-sharma-mad-dog