Review by Steve Bennett

Why have a cabaret section if no one’s going to use it? Ian Shaw has clearly got the chops as a jazz singer and pianist, but little to offer the world of comedy. At best, this is a case of misclassification, because these light songs, weak banter and adept parodies are musically strong, but barely funny.

He has an old-fashioned sort of shtick, introducing songs with gentle theatrical anecdotes (‘I  loved George Melly to pieces…’); making unexciting complaints of being out-of-touch and middle-aged,  befuddled by internet acronyms; and cracking double entendres that might have once had an edge back in the day when an openly gay performer might have caused some frisson in the audience.

He parodies James Taylor’s nasal singing style, which will tickle his demographic but most likely seem overdone to others; does a jazz remake of Stuck In The Middle With You, and covers an old Ruth Brown R&B number, all of which have a little wit but nothing to raise the roof.

A duet with Leanne Jones from the cast of Molly Wobbly's Tit Factory seems a little bit more personal, being about coming out to his daughter, but yet again it’s stronger musically than it is comically.

Shaw has been touring with Rory Bremner and Hattie Hayridge, and this seems like a show from a man who wants to dabble in the Fringe, rather than deliver a spectacular show. And when there’s so much competition, that’s just not enough.

Review date: 21 Aug 2012
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Stand 3 and 4