Edinburgh Fringe 2011

More Ivor Dembina videos

Original Review:

But on the rare occasions he does perform a full, focussed set to fresh ears, those old standards come into their own. Short, effective and very Jewish, the self-deprecating puns and put-downs are obviously influenced by the Catskills comics of a bygone age, via the insecurities of Woody Allen.

There is a corniness to some of them, and the whole set leans heavily on the semitic stereotypes that have endured so well down the years, but there’s no denying that the material does work. And if you don’t like one joke, try the one that immediately follows. To use one of those stereotypes as an analogy, Dembina determined to make a sale, however much cajoling and charming he has to do to get it.

Once he’s won the audience’s trust, he eases back on the gag count to talk more honestly about things personal to him: his fetishistic sexual tendancies and the human impact of Israel’s policy in the occupied territories (which he has visited – and performed in - as a peace observer). You couldn’t ask for more diverse topics.

But they’re subjects he speaks sagely about, from experience and from the heart, which what keeps the audience interested. It’s almost a shame when he has to puncture the tales with something as sordid as jokes, which are often bolted on almost as an afterthought, rather than emerging naturally from the story.

But you do have to get your laughs somewhere, and Dembina gets the job done. Which might come as a surprise to those Brixton regulars…

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Hubby and I just saw him at the Poetry Cafe last Saturday. Very entertaining stuff, Ivor was friendly and funny. Would recommend his gigs highly.

Anita, August 2009

Ivor compered my gig tonight and he was terrific, turning around a pretty indifferent crowd with great aplomb.

Alaric Dynevor, Comedy Cellar, Hudderrsfield, March 2008

Ivor's been going for ages and boasts all the stature and respect of Alexei Sayle. He also sports the Jewish neuroticism of Woody Allen. Incidentally neither of them have made me laugh for around 15 years. Ivor's strong and confident but the actual laughs are few and far between.

Michael Monkhouse, November 2007

Ivor is a classic: strong material and most importantly a funny guy.

Wayne Howard, June 2006

Love his opinions on what makes a stand-up: "You've gotta be unbelievably arrogant". And I always welcome some Jewish bitterness - nothing is funnier than someone else's unnecessarily exaggerated misfortunes.

Amy, August 2004

SadoJudaism was excellent. I had the privilege of seeing it in Hampstead in a very intimate gig with no mic - really amazing and very funny. It is incredibly hard to make 12 people laugh for nearly two hours, Ivor managed it.

Hamish, March 2004

Dembina seemed to me like a tired, bitter old bloke who smokes roll ups. He just complained to the staff at the back of the room about the mic feedback and slipped a few pretty lame gags in between. I have'nt seen Sadojudaism though. Sounds like I could be made to change my mind.

Dan Smith, August 2003

Ivor has to be seen to be believed. His look, somewhere between Charlie Chaplin and the celebrity bin chaser, Benjamin Pell, has not changed for years, nor, sad to say, have his jokes. His determination to create a catchphrase - "All the way to the...(microphone!)" and "Have we ever let you down?" (Yes, Ivor, you have) is stunningly committed, however admittedly atrocious. The night he comperes at Brixton is always fantastic, however, and he has become somewhat of a cult figure there now (at least that's what I think they said). Keep up the bad work, Ivor

Dan, June 2003

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