Jay Sodagar Announces World War 3 at the 2011 Brighton Fringe
Live Review
Brighton Quadrant

Another difficult Brighton Fringe show to review, thanks to its miniscule audience. This time there were three of us: myself, an effervescent Iranian man who fancied himself as something of a comedian himself and his wife.

So Sodagar wisely abandoned most of his prepared show –not that he had that much say in the matter. It was clear who was calling the shots here, the gregarious economics lecturer with the constant, generous laugh drawn to the venue because he, too, was a Sodagar.

The upshot was a hugely fun....well, not a show, but more like a conversation, which is why its near-impossible to critique. There was definitely more than one person in this monologue.

The banter flowed freely in both directions, and it was something of a gear change whenever the Sodagar on stage switched from chat to material. And the glimpses we did get of the show were not promising – not least of which is a title that needs three exclamation marks to show how funny it is.

It started with an overlong anecdote about shoppng in Ikea with his wife which he lent a significance that this fairly slight bit of observational relationship comedy did not warrant. But the World War III of the title refers to Sodagar's one-man war on everything which makes the world bad – but the snippets he gave were rather simplistic, as were his questions to the audience. 'Who's to blame for the state of things,' he asks. 'Is it the politicians the bankers or general selfishness.' Well, it's a complex inter-related situation - can't you ask us 'who's in from Brighton' instead?

So probably for the best he abandoned the script for a chat; and jolly enjoyable it was too. But it wasn't a show - let alone *the* show. For that, another time.

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These reviews (including mine, I confess) are a little harsh. Jay has a friendly, easy-going approach and some strong material and is definitely one to watch.

Michael Monkhouse, March 2013

Half of Jay’s act is observational comedy, but it’s all observation and no comedy. Like watching Jack Dee meticulously build a gag – then forget to add a punchline. The other half is political, but again it’s too unfocussed (and too joke-free) to hit those comedy pulses. Example: 'I’m a leftie but I don’t like this New Labour lot.' I agree, but I don’t get paid for it… He doesn’t like Bush either. And when your subject’s this clichéd, you need more than a sneer and a rant to make it worthwhile. On a more positive note, once Jay settles down he can really warm to a theme (like people selling golf clubs on Oxford Street). He develops rapport with the audience, tackles the darker side of life, exposes our foibles… But so did Bernard Manning.

Michael Monkhouse, September 2007

I saw Jay last night Downstairs at the Kings Head, and he was excellent. he must have really improved his act since the older reviews of a few years ago.

Andy S, July 2007

I saw him last year in Edinburgh and I must say that he was mind blowing. He´s sharp, clever and funny as well. He´s not so traditional, and I really think that it is a good skill.

Luiz Pereira, February 2007

Saw Jay at the Laughing Horse in Wimbledon on Friday and laughed myself silly. Particularly all the stuff about golf clubs for sale on Oxford Street

Sarah, December 2005

Djalili is funny but wrong (below). Sodagar is far from genius. He is even further from funny. How long will we have to suffer tired acts churning out the same hack material? It's not what us punters pay our entrance fee for.

Stephen Derry, March 2005

Try telling some jokes man. I saw the preview of his edinburgh show for this year and the last 10 minutes were just a rant of his hate of racists, Bush and Blair, without a discenable titter from the crowd. Take my wife, please. Its a start, Jay.

Rob, April 2004

The review is absolutely spot on....Jay's opening line is disgraceful and shamefully cringeworthy.. It develops the pretence that the audience hankers for him to thinks they are racists. That kind of attitude is not only insulting but it is also deeply damaging. He recovers his act with some useful material but the damage has already been done. I cannot urge more strongly to re-script his first line as it is atrocious and mean minded. It is embarssing and anti intellectual.

Ashok, January 2004

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