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Mark Allen's show has failed to capture the attention of a single reviewer throughout its month-long run at the Free Fringe. Maybe it's the afternoon slot because it is certainly not the talents of its writer. The show itself is tightly scripted, genuinely funny and makes a nice antidote from some of the quite formulaic comedy that audiences will have endured in the last few weeks. The theme of the piece is Britain'ss relationship with itself and the rest of the world. As Allen pointed out Britain has had at least five different names, a national animal (the Lion) that does not even live in the country and more predictably a German royal family. Allen s research might be flimsy in places but the revelation that William the Conqueror was really called William the Bastard will no doubt get lodged for a drunken conversation at some point in the future. There is a well-observed segment on the UK's relationship with animals. The only country where the RSPCA was formed 47 years before the NSPCC hit a chord with a very healthy audience at the Brunswick Street venue. As a performer, Allen reminds you of Marcus Brigstocke but sometimes is let down by trying to over-sell his material rather than let the show breathe a little. However this is a minor criticism of an able writer who genuinely enjoys language. By discussing the notion of Britishness and by that examining Englishness and Scottish identity he treads a difficult line with a largely Scottish audience but with charm and avoiding gags merely based on stereotypes he managed to keep the laughs coming without being offensive. He even opened up the comedic can of worms that is football without losing the crowd. He had a very nice joke about football thuggishness during Euro 96 and German car workers that showed up the utter ridiculousness of English fans trashing BMWs. I feel sure that Allen will be back in Edinburgh again
Gavin Yates, August 2006
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