Edinburgh Fringe 2013

Even before the performance starts Alderton is playing a mind game, the theme of each preshow song is going to crop up somewhere in the performance. When the lights go down the audience is confronted with  . . . . Who knows! Is it a fairy or an East End bouncer singing the most ludicrous song ever written – ‘She flew in under the window’?

As each one of Alderton’s multiple personalities bursts forth and treats us to a guided tour through his surreal mind, the game changes pace, swoops and throws us in all directions. He has a Drum and Bass club in his right knee; he is wearing Kurt Cobain’s racist shoes and has a microphone that amplifies the audience’s thoughts – scary stuff.

Scary and very entertaining. And here’s the most pleasing aspect, throughout the show I can’t help thinking – my God – that is the most stupid and ridiculous thing I have ever seen yet half an hour later I’m just thinking – that was so clever and whilst it looked so haphazard and madcap it was brilliantly written; so well written that the improvised material fitted seamlessly with the planned and pre-recorded.

 

Even as I’m walking back to the bar singing the random exit music music – King’s ‘Love and Pride’ I realise those two very words had been thrown at the audience at a seemingly arbitrary moment during the show, marking the spot for this earworm to burrow into any unsuspecting subconscious.

 

If you like your comedy on the crazy side go and join the queue for this show , if you don’t like sweaty bald men wearing mascara, go and see it anyway , an hour later you may have changed your mind .