Simon Taylor’s Fringe Festival show is fairly straightforward: it’s an hour of all-new stand-up comedy, perfectly funny and satisfying from start to finish. In fusing sharp observational comedy with true-to-life offbeat tales, Taylor proves his credentials as an accomplished comic performer.
Crucially, he exudes a certain cool, seemingly in his element before an expectant audience. Taylor’s natural charm and chilled demeanor in turn assists punters to relax – the importance of which should never be understated as far as comedy is concerned. It helps, of course, that Taylor is an intensely likeable and charismatic guy, with a striking hint of mischief within his expression. You can’t help but feel your face-muscles relax into a smile.
As for his material, it’s rock solid. One expects that Taylor will tweak things and substitute certain bits in and out of his set as the season unfolds – such was the trend of opening night, at least. It’s a Fringe Festival show, after all, the festival in which audiences must abide by some experimentation and creativity. Taylor can afford to tinker, though: whatever he attempts, his audience will likely follow, his skills as a comic already established from the outset. Again, mutual comfort proves a big factor. Within the hour, Taylor explores greetings and colloquialisms of the world, takes aim at Tiger Airways and, if you’re lucky enough to hear it, he may share a memorable story of a night-gone-wrong in a Lion onesie.
Ultimately, Funny is as the title itself suggests. It’s as simple as that: no more, no less. If you’re after a laugh and you’re looking for a sure thing, look no further than Simon Taylor’s show.
BY NICK MASON
