This unlikely named clown creation, Mr Chonkers, from American comedian, John Norris, is a Grade-A, nonsense-filled, gold-plated, home run, hit. It is just brilliantly silly and the bevvy-filled youthful audience that cram into the tiny semi-circular Anatomy Theatre auditorium are screaming with glee and pounding the wooden lecterns by the close!
From the Gregorian Monk opening to the magic trick climax, the pacing, comic, timing and audience interaction are all perfectly aligned within the perfect space at the perfect time. All of his stars have lined up, as have mine!
Like all great comic turns that have you laughing out loud for no apparent reason, I just wish I could record it, pull it apart, study it and understand it. But even then, Norris introduces enough variables into this show, from the very first interaction, to ensure that every performance is a one-off, and that is surely the secret sauce for all great comic performances.
My favourite moment, although there were plenty of contenders, has to be his self-beration against the back wall. His vaunt face interaction with the blackboard, harshly criticising and scolding himself for a rubbish show, before going fully in the alternative direction has the audience screaming with laughter.
Having found his lucky horseshoe, Norris may also be about to find gold at the end of his rainbow.
22:15 Daily (Not 11th or 18th) – Till 24th August
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mr-chonkers
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 3rd August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr
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