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Justin Moorhouse: The Boiled Egg On The Beach
Live Review

Comedy club stalwarts taking on Edinburgh often obsess about the themes and messages they think you need to have an acclaimed Fringe show. But as this year’s most talked-about acts Greg Davies and Bo Burnham prove, neither are a necessity: Funny for an hour is the most important thing, originality the second.

Justin Moorhouse is without a doubt funny for an hour; though on the second criterion the jury is still out, mainly because he tends to stick to very familiar topics.

He openly states this is show without preaching, although there quite clearly is a point to be made about ambition and fun. The unusual title comes from a childhood memory of a bleak caravanning holiday in Cornwall, where the family would picnic on the beach every day, sheltered from the elements by their windbreak. One day, the young Moorhouse spotted a man eating a boiled egg, and the height of his ambition was to one day be able to enjoy such a delicacy, which his Mum deemed to expensive for the family lunchbox. One message is to ensure your children have a better life than you did, so he takes his progenies to Disneyland.

Over the hour he talks about the joys of the Travelodge, surly teenagers, the inherent ridiculousness of having a Doncaster International Airport, class differences, being overweight, Tiger Woods’ sex scandal, relationship woes – quite a typical set list for many a jobbing stand-up.

Moorhouse has some pretty decent jokes on some of these: a lovely description of his 13-year-old lad as ‘a yawn in a hood’, an sharp quip about the short measures in Disney’s bars, or a florid passages about what he *should* have said in an awkward situation. But although there are individual moments of inspiration, the writing as a whole doesn’t push the boat out far enough.

For example, on the section about his weight he does a few easy jokes about going to the gym or being too short for his weight – a very old line. Compare this to Mick Ferry, another Northern comic who’s better known for his club work than his Edinburgh shows, who has fashioned a much more incisive hour on the topic.

Moorhouse’s charm is by far his biggest asset, though, and it’s hard to imagine anyone would be immune to his infectious, joyful energy. So even when he does something as simple as portray the middle-classes as balsamic vinegar addicts, he does it with a sense of fun that all can enjoy.

He says he works hard at his comedy, as he believes he has the best job in the world – although the bonhomie seems to come very naturally. However, he probably will have to keep plugging away at the writing to attain a level of acclaim above being a reliably entertaining act. But reliably entertaining is no bad thing…

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I have seen Justin twice now and have to say he is the best I have seen live, and that puts him above many big name acts thatI have seen too.

adrian, March 2013

No current/up to date comments show that this entertainer is not going to make it. Current tour is about masturbating and eating. V Poor.

James Middleton, February 2013

I saw Justin at the Slug and Lettice comedy night in Liverpool on Saturday night as part of my hen do and I have to say he was really funny. Not sure what all the bad comments are all about but the bloke made us all really laugh. I have seen many comedians in the last few years and have been disappointed with a few big name acts that are not as funny as there DVD's but Justin was a real treat, so thank you Justin for giving us a right laugh on my hen do. It was even funnier after we realised that he was Young Kenny in Phoenix Nnights, what a classic

Claire, July 2012

Saw him compering at the Comedy Store, Manchester on Saturday night. Superb!

JC, February 2011

A true headliner, crackingly impressed with him. The performance and material were impeccable, and I'm at odds to see why he isn't 'bigger' ..... unlike some who worked on Phoenix Nights ... I hate having to explain him as the one who had the spray painted tiger face! Justin is a genuine funnyman whose style of comedy is accessible, intelligent, warm and a genuine crowd pleaser. I would recommend him to anyone. £20 cheaper to see him than Peter Kay!

Ni Tle, October 2010

Justin played a blinder last night, where he demonstrated what appeared to be his contempt for the audience by walking out of the gig. The audience at the Peacock Lounge in Huddersfield was the recipient of this childish behaviour claiming that he wasn’t getting the audience responses he expected. For reference his act was the warm up for his Edinburgh 2009 fringe appearance, lucky old Edinburgh. Keep this up Justin and the audience could respond by staying at home and saving their money.

Maisie, July 2009

Moorhouse's show consisted of lowering his online friends list to 5 people ( which at the end was an idea he had blown off, rendering his act to be pointless). He accused people with myspace and facebook to be lazy idiots who needed to get out more and do something, yet there he was trying to make a living out of 'a year and a half's research' on the very same sites! The man was a walking contradiction. He seemed to think that if he emphasised his broad accent by talking loudly that that would make him funny. It didn't. His jokes bordered on the offensive and at several points me and my friend were sat with hanging jaws because we couldn't believe he was getting away with it! An absolute shambles. That's an hour I'll never get back.

Tasha Pert, August 2008

Well I saw this show on Thursday night, and don't really understand the comments below. It wasn't awful, it was good, no frills stand up. I don't think it pulls up any trees, and I don't think it will do anything in Edinburgh where there is a huge amount of much better comedy available, but it wasn't as bad as has been said. Justin seems to be a competent act, why the nastiness?

B Campbell, July 2007

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