At Chortle Fast Fringe 2010

Disproving God

More Carey Marx videos

Carey Marx: The Doom Gloom Boom – Fringe 2009
Live Review

Carey Marx brings to mind an old-fashioned comic-book schoolboy. The sort of slightly naughty mischief who, after being caught using his catapult to scrump apples from the tress in the local orchard, would put on his most innocent doe-eyed look and shrug from beneath his cutely lopsided school cap that it wasn’t him. Only instead of scrumping apples, Marx cracks gags about buggering cows or the proper usage of the c-word.

But that way of softening the unpleasant is the only gimmick in an uncomplicated hour of spiky routines about topical issues, matching gags to political points.

You can see an intellectual obsession with crafting the perfect joke at work; as Carey is clearly fascinated by their form. He even manages to get a new twist on the ‘waiter, waiter, there’s a fly in my soup’ feedline, though the image that leads us here is hardly salubrious. Such a mechanical approach does mean the show’s soul is elusive, but the laughs never are, as Marx is clearly a top-drawer writer, combining intelligent comment with teasingly edgy wit.

The theory around which this all hangs is that a bit of recession might be good for us, to lessen the drive to acquire more and more things the planet can’t provide. Then, via the almost obligatory Susan Boyle routine, he moves on to clearly heartfelt material about the increasing erosion of our liberties through such authoritarian moves as ID cards or email snooping, all under the dubious excuse of ‘preventing terrorism’. Preventing you putting your plastics in your glass recycling bag, more like.

But it’s not all so campaigning. He’s as obsessed with what he charmingly calls ‘bum sex’ as he is with issues, which means the hour moves with seamless ease from the puerile to the political, from the whimsical to the sick, and always with cheeky charm and powerful punchlines.

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He was laid back in his delivery and did most of his gags with a pint in his hand which made the whole thing feel like you were just listening to some funny bloke in a pub. I find it hard to believe that this guy's ever died on stage, generally because hes so arid. He lit the place up last night and I'd pay good money to see him again.

A, March 2011

Saw Carey Marx at Glee club last night. Bloody brilliant, will def be going to see him again.

Emma George, March 2011

We saw Carey last Friday as part of a comedy showcase at Bannermans (Fringe Festival). He was the only one of the four who was even vaguely funny - in fact, I thought he did a valiant job of salvaging something out of the mess that the others had left behind. Carey, I would respectfully suggest that if you have to share the stage with any of them again that you try to get on first, you were the only one who deserves to make a living out of it!

Tony, August 2010

I usually somewhat resent having to stay too long past 11 at Fallowfield's "XS Malarkey" but Carey Marx made a midweek late night VERY worthwhile. A craftsman of bad taste, he is clearly a very accomplished writer/performer and recommended to anyone prepared to be challenged by their stand-up. (Also, to do the best part of an hour at a low-price gig shows a certain generosity and dedication).

Ben, June 2010

My favourite comedian on the circuit, genius!

Adam, February 2010

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Alaric Dynevor, Guffaw Comedy Club, November 2009

I saw Carey Marx at the Tobacco Factory in Bristol on 20 July 09. He was obviously trying out new material for his new Edinburgh show. Once he's polished it up a bit, this will be a class act. It is fine as it is though. He packs a lot of material into an hour. His nonchalant rant on the X Factor and his own vision as to how Ms Boyles meltdown should have been played out in his mind was the most twisted and sublime fantasy I have ever heard. A work of genius, albeit a sick one. I shall also think of him when I next climb a tree. You need to see the show to appreciate this.

Rich, July 2009

I find it difficult to comprehend what beckie says (see comment below). Carey is a one-liner comedian ("an uapologetic gagsmith") and so it would be unusual for him to die on stage in such terms as those described. If the punters don't like a certain punchline, they don't have to wait long for another one to come along. Carey is an industrious writer and was probably trying out some new material - it's best to persevere. He recently won the Best International Act at the NZ Comedy Festival and that alone shows the strength of his material. Perhaps the crowd at Fat Tuesdays just couldn't appreciate his delivery style and the sometimes controversial jokes.

Bill Ryan, July 2009

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