Tim FitzHigham: Stop the Pigeon

If you’re tired of stand-up comedians chatting away about being single or eating too much or whatever, then you might want to check out the Fringe’s own comic adventurer/storyteller Tim FitzHigham’s new show about trying to win another ridiculous wager.

This year, he bets against fellow comedian Alex Horne that he can send a message 50 miles in under an hour, using the same technology available in the 18th century, when William Douglas, the 4th Duke of Queensberry placed a similar bet.

FitzHigham mixes high-energy, vivacious comic storytelling with videos and audio of Horne and him discussing the wager, and FitzHigham subsequently trying to succeed through different means: a cricket match, a cannon (yes) and eventually, the titular pigeon.

It takes quite some talent to make a riveting tale out of attaching a letter to a pigeon’s leg and hoping it comes back on time. FitzHigham keeps you on the edge of your seat with what is essentially a pretty silly bet between two grown men. It’s the kind of comedy/documentary formula that should technically best be suited for television, but FitzHigham makes it work excellently, with his eccentric delivery and infections enthusiasm.