EDINBURGH 2014 - BWW Reviews: IAN SMITH- FLAPPABLE, Pleasance Courtyard, August 13 2014

By: Aug. 14, 2014
Edinburgh Festival
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Ian Smith tells us at the beginning of the show that he has spent some time researching what are the most commonly googled questions. The number one most googled question is not as insightful as you may think. Rather than any existential questions the results have shown that people are more interested in "what is halal meat". He runs through a list of what is, how do, what is and when do style questions. I'm not sure if it's the results of his research or his delivery that makes this so funny.

Ian Smith is a master of observational comedy. The situations he is describing are believable and so identifiable. My particular favourites were his comments on rail travel and how one Virgin trains employee refused to give him a spoon for his yoghurt as he didn't buy it on board. Cut to video footage of him trying to eat said yoghurt with his bare hands on the train. Another highlight was his comments on soaps changing actors without acknowledging it had happened.

The best part of the set I can't repeat as it would spoil what is quite possibly the funniest thing I have seen at the Fringe so far this year. Audience involvement is also key as he interacts with the crowd quite a bit which highlights his ability to improvise.

The routine is well rehearsed and well scripted, he manages to link all his material together with skill and reference back to earlier comments in a very effective manner. He wraps the set up beautifully, linking back to the way he opened the show.

Ian Smith- Flappable runs at Pleasance Courtyard until August 24th.

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