Danny McLoughlin: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Pleasance Courtyard

It can be painful watching a talented circuit act bring their debut hour to Edinburgh before they are really ready. Since his appearance in the Chortle Student Comedy Award final in 2008 McLoughlin has been carving a name for himself across the UK clubs and is respected as an up-and-coming talent and club MC.

 But as so many before him have learned this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to do an hour.

McLoughlin has a very low-energy, low-key delivery which can drag especially when faced with an unresponsive audience in a sweatbox of a venue. The apathy from the crowd may also be down to the numerous Peter Kayesque references to uniquely British retro topics. Several conversations started up around me as some Russians and a couple of Australians searched for the meaning behind ‘scrumping, horse brasses, clackers and toasties’.  Kay has his target audience who you can be certain will relate to his nostalgia, McLoughlin needs to understand he’s playing to a roomful of tourists who will never be able to appreciate his Neil Buchanan joke.

He is just not accessible enough. And it’s not just the UK-centric material that jars. There is no surer way to alienate at least some of your audience than by stating that a woman would have extra reason to celebrate at a Christening because she’s just got her fanny back, or the fact he wanted to kick his nan’s head off with a crane kick. He just doesn’t come across with any charm through a lot of the hour.

It’s a great shame because tucked away are some excellent snippets of ideas and some nice writing but it seems to be too much, too soon for this young act.