At Chortle Fast Fringe 2010

Disproving God

More Carey Marx videos

Carey Marx: Laziness & Stuff
Live Review

Carey Marx is impotent.

Comedically speaking, at least. He’s been offering up ideas to change the world for a decade or so, but, he admits: ‘No one is really listening to me.’

He can’t even get the audience he deserves – this was a particularly lairy weekend crowd, with a bunch of lads in the front row letting rip with a Pavlovian ‘way-hey!’ when Marx says, with no intention of double entendre: ‘My wife came into the bedroom.’ Never mind the clever theories and smart punchlines, with which Marx is well-endowed, comedy is merely saying the word ‘come’, apparently.

It certainly made for an odd dynamic. Much of Marx’s material is aimed at exploding some hack comedy myths: how crap in bed must you be to not be able to find a clitoris, for example. Only problem is, our laddy lads clap the tired myths as if it was comedy gold, not interested in the deconstruction. But after something of an awkward battle of wills, Marx pulled the gig back to his agenda; those years served on the circuit coal-face doing him proud.

Once he was finally allowed to deliver his intended material, Marx demonstrated his usual flair for giving uncomfortable subjects a cheeky twist. He can be quite brutal, in a darkly comic Quentin Tarantino kind of way, as his routine on ‘rabbi rape’ clearly proves. But generally the tone is playful – whether it’s on testicles floating in the bath or , erm, slapping women. Not acceptable, but surprisingly playful.

Fat people come in for some particular stick; he hates the way they seem to stop dead in the street, and the anecdote about a fat schoolgirl on a bus is hilarious – and far from the usual complaints about tinny mobile phone music.

There’s no astounding high concept to this show, just a few themes to link otherwise disparate chunks of stand-up. But he’s a bright operator, with a smart – even smartarse – flair to much of his writing that guarantees a solid cascade of laughs.

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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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