Edinburgh Fringe 2024
John Luke Roberts: John-Luke-A-Palooza!
John Luke Roberts
Genre: Comedy
Venue: Monkey Barrel
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
John Luke Roberts revisits a different one of his ten previous shows each day. The performance of his 2014 ‘Stnad Up’ show is a mix of chaotic comedy, where Roberts turns every interaction, from audience insults and aphorisms to eating lemons, into absurd and hilarious alternative comedy.
Review
John Luke Roberts (JLR) reassures the audience right from the start that he hasn’t gone mad, he’s simply offering a loyalty card. Each day, he presents one of the ten shows from his extensive body of work, spanning years of creative evolution. The enthusiastic whoops from the audience reveal that some have already seen previous reworkings of these shows during the last few days. As Roberts explains, collect five stamps on your loyalty card, and you’ll earn a free download of another show. Collect all ten, and even he might start to question your dedication, and your sanity.
In the intimate setting of the Monkey Barrel cellar, we’re treated to “Stnad Up,” the first of his break-up shows from 2014. A decade ago, this show might have left audiences wondering, “Is he alright?” Now, it’s delivered with a knowing wink. By his own admission, Roberts might not write a show so cruel and physically demanding today. Early on, he offers a glimpse into what’s happening beyond the obvious comedy. He quotes poet Don Paterson: “A correction made to work more than five years old is less a revision than the cancellation of the opinion of another man.” This idea, that altering older work can feel like overwriting the thoughts of a different person, the self from the past, along with his nod to the modern-day madness of loyalty schemes and marketing, sets the scene for what is to come.
Roberts is a chaotic clown, confidently in charge, and entirely present in the room. Whether he’s taking insults from the audience, being slapped, or doused with a large plastic glass of water, he turns every interaction into instant comedy. His quick wit and playful absurdity are as funny as they are silly, such as when an audience member asks him not to spill flour on her, and Roberts, face full of the stuff, promptly declares her “gluten intolerant.”
His jokes, seemingly simple on the surface, are often underpinned by a cleverness that sneaks up on you. For example, his reaction to his ex-girlfriend’s request for more alone time, or the dilemma of splitting from a double act and deciding who gets the feedline and who gets the punchline, showcases his sharp writing and comedic skills. Yet, these are merely appetisers before the more alternative, physical and visual fun begins. Midway through a series of body part puns, he informs us, if we haven’t guessed already, that he never had ambitions to join the mainstream. That’s one thing nobody present could accuse him of.
The show quickly becomes a vehicle for the comedian’s relationship break-up catharsis, with volunteers encouraged to shout insults, slap his face, and throw water over him. We are treated to some hilarious aphorisms, including references to lemons, fig leaves, and a sad slinky. There are also clever, funny, and poignant insults read from cards directed at each front-row audience member in turn, including: “If you built a snowman on Christmas Eve, and it magically came to life, it would then just stand very still in the morning and pretend not to be alive”.
The physical, visceral comedy reaches its peak as we watch Roberts eat six juicy, bitter lemons, each one more painful than the last. The on-stage volunteer, who initially encourages to keep going, is gently reminded in an aside that he has the power to stop this. Yet, instead of recognising the comedian’s discomfort, the volunteer insists on pushing forward, asking Roberts to eat yet another lemon. It’s a moment that captures the madness of the performance, as we all become complicit in seeing just how far this can go. In the end, there’s a snowman callback and carrot munching to be had, and when the plea, “Snowman Roberts, will you be my friend?” is made, the answer, of course, from this comedian to all of us, is surely yes.
This is not so much a cult as a clan of dedicated JLR fans. I am a late recruit into his exciting world of alternative comedy, but with my first taste and one stamp on my loyalty card, this shameless, hilarious, comedic marketing ploy has worked its magic – I am sure I will be tempted back for more.
