A cathartic hour of rage about the current state of world politics, and the price of mayo
Guy Williams is really mad, like really mad. Like the title suggests he is more than a little angry and confused at the state of the world and really needs to let loose about it all. From start to finish this is a 100 miles per hour show. Guy Williams never lets up the pace of constant jokes and ramblings about his frustrations with friends, stopping only to let out a guttural scream or to go down a tangent. If you don’t like high energy comedians, who are always on the attack and rarely slow down, it’s not the show for you.
His delivery is manic and furious but his personal anecdotes keep his political frustrations from coming off as a lecture, and instead like someone at the pub complaining about their life, in a juvenile fury. It’s a cathartic watch, Guy Williams is not looking for something intellectual or argumentative in his stand up – instead he wants to spend an hour enraged and making you laugh with a fellow “leftist cuck” as he calls himself. If you are largely in agreement, and are looking for a stress relief of a show it’s hard not to recommend. He is refreshing vulgar too. In a festival full of polished precise stand up about capitalism, sexism and other ‘ism’s he lets loose with his absurd tirades about the worlds villains and racist family members, leaving the crowd in stitches and wondering how much is even rehearsed.
In the calmest moments of the show he talks to the audience, or responds to heckles about his new hobby of collecting vintage football boots much to the joy of a few hecklers near the back. These moments are sparse but provide a nice respite from the onslaught of jokes, it’s something I’d like to see more of, especially for the contrast it provides to rest of his show, and he get’s to show off his charisma and improvisational skills. This is a very one note show for better or worse. It has the energy of a rage room, and if you feel like you also need to scream about news headlines and family member’s insane political beliefs, it’s a very welcome break.
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: Venue 139 Assembly Roxy – Upstairs
Dates: Aug 19th – 30th
Time: 6:15pm (60 mins)
Ticket prices: £15.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 16+