Perhaps better known for his award-winning podcast Off menu with James Allcaster or for winning season nine of Taskmaster, the man-child that is Ed Gamble was a regular on the Stand-Up circuit long before pod casts even existed, and returns to his roots tonight in a laughter filled show at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh’s biggest stage. And despite the hurricane inspired winds outside it didn’t deter a packed house from enjoying almost two hours of lively entertainment.
Ed is very ably assisted by noteworthy warm-up act, Chloe Petts, who fills the first thirty minutes with easy laughter, starting with her tales of being a ‘child geezer’, at age 13, six foot one tall, at an all-girls school and parents asking at ballet class lessons, why there is a bouncer in the room. She also hilariously recalls ballet routines where she more resembles a centre forward climbing for a corner than a graceful swan. Pett’s playful interrogation of the front row is equal parts squirm and hilarity, but it is certainly a relief to be safely sat in the upper tier! Veganism, football and her previous sexual experimentation with men are all explored with varying degrees of self-deprecating humour.
Following Chloe’s set and a brief interval it is time for the main event, the 38-year-old Gamble makes his appearance to a fanfare of music and lights. I almost expect him to be wearing a dressing gown and boxing gloves! The slickness of the next 70 minutes however is beyond question, delivered with a quick brain and a rapier wit, with barely a line missed and with the odd heckle artfully dispatched, and with a great rapport with his lively, youthful crowd throughout. This is a man on top of his game, bouncing dodging and weaving, with quick jabs of humour and decisive upper cut punchlines. He actually reminds me a lot of a youthful Ricky Gervais in his use of self-deprecation and occasionally dark but generally playful humour. Both having a confident stage presence and tending to joke about their own life experiences in a way that feels approachable and relatable.
Gamble’s fear of turning into a posh Tory Tw*t is a recurrent theme, as is his belief that anything he makes jokes about now will become his reality in three year’s time. So no jokes about paedophile comedians.
There is a hilarious skit about posh people sneezing with their eyes open, and of men always sneezing louder as they get older. So true!
Perhaps the highlight of the observed humour features the rise of his Street’s WhatsApp group which he and his wife would regularly watch ‘mirrored’ on the large screen as nightly entertainment. When the going’s on of the street reach gutter level one participant has to remind everyone that the group was started to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee! Brilliant.
Non-gambler, Gamble’s recent honeymoon in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, also provides some great anecdotes.
At a time where it is hard to laugh at all, this certainly proved to be a ready antidote to the troubles of the world. If you like a gamble, this is a sure fire winner.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 20th October 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 2Hrs (with interval)