Fringe Comedy Reviews: Dark Humour

Jena Friedman’s American C*nt [★★★★☆] is her first full-length show at the Fringe, and she's pulling no punches. As a sharp and fearless performer, she homes in on just about every issue you care to name. This is one of her strengths but perhaps it's also to a flaw: Friedman doesn’t always stay on topic long enough for the audience to get on board. A routine about the American presidential race proves that there are plenty of laughs to be had when she does stick to one issue, equally, a walk-out over a joke about cancer proves that sometimes the audience are genuinely shocked. The material is strong and well-honed ,with Friedman revelling in the audience's reaction to her more cutting routines. A few cracks start to show when Friedman has to refer to her notes, making for a slightly bumpy end, but overall this is a provocative and thought-provoking introduction to Friedman's material.

Michael J Dolan also has his audience on edge. Miserable Guts [★★★☆☆] is both a bleak and brutally honest show that seems like an uncomfortably realistic portrait of his life. In fact, early on the audience seems worried for him. By the skin of his teeth, he manages to weave together the threads of a show that's forever on the verge of falling apart. Stand-up is Dolan's therapy of choice, which he uses to expel the most personal of demons (he stopped going to actual therapy because, as he described it, the therapist wore childish shoes). The latter half of the show moves into more worldly material about politics, hatred of babies, the social elite and Batman. It is an impressive hour of bleak pondering on the existence of a man that is outspokenly unhappy in most aspects of his life, but is also coherent enough that it refrains from becoming a pity party.

Then there is Seymour Mace, tired of being unpopular, his new show Niche as F*ck! [★★★★☆] gives him the full freedom to be his eccentric self. After opening his show with some ludicrous puppetry, he warns the audience, 'You are free to leave!' Sometimes there is a nightmarish quality to his show – like a terrifying clown hiding under your bed. But overall, Mace's offbeat lure and charm leaves a feeling of unnerve and wonder. The show is silly, odd and doesn’t care if you understand it. With (more) puppetry, game shows and a science section (don’t expect much actual science), Mace has found the perfect way to mix his hilarious madcap approach to stand-up with a satirical blend of fun and insanity.

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Jena Friedman: American C*nt, The Stand 5 & 6, until 30 Aug, 7.30pm, £7-8

Michael J. Dolan: Miserable Guts, The Stand 3 & 4, until 30 Aug, 4.50pm, £7-8

Seymour Mace: Niche as F*ck!, The Stand 2, until 30 Aug, 2.30pm, £7-8