The Silly and Unnecessary Variety Show hand-colored logo, with an inset picture of Lori Hamilton and her two Variety Show cat producers and a logo for Worry Insurance with a blue umbrella graphic.
Online comedy is difficult. You know that awkward pause in a live show where no one laughs at a joke and there’s just silence? That’s what you get all the way through. Even the best comedians struggle to deal with this lack of atmosphere and streaming live over the internet means that things can and do go wrong.
Lori Hamilton cleverly addresses this at the beginning of her performance, inviting us to take a drink or snack to fill those awkward gaps. Her show is broadcast live from her home in New York, and “produced” by her two cats. She flits between different characters and video content, with a touch of added whimsy. Was it silly? Absolutely. Was it unnecessary? Perhaps.
Her style isn’t one that particularly works for me, but it did have that touch of Fringe nostalgia – stumbling into a random free show in the basement of a bar, not having a clue what you are in for, and having to stick it out to the end of the performance. And hey, at least there were cats.
The Space UK are releasing 80 shows online in place of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. https://online.thespaceuk.com
Reviewer: Poppy Stewart
Reviewed: 12th August 2020
North West End UK Rating: ★★★
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