Josh Howie at the Just For Laughs London showcase

Note: This review is from 2010

Review by Steve Bennett

Josh Howie’s material is not for the faint at heart, revolving almost entirely around domestic violence, paedophilia, anal sex and rape. Even Frankie Boyle might think ‘Hang on, that’s a bit much’ for the relentlessly hard-edged nature of the set, which Howie was auditioning for the Montreal festival’s Nasty Show.

He’s saved by a great technical expertise in crafting gags, and often you can laugh at the artistry despite the uncomfortable nature of the premise and the bluntness of the payoff. Sometimes, however, he seems to give disconcerting the audience a higher priority than making them laugh – especially in matters of race – at which moments the reaction can only be stony and uneasy.

Review date: 18 Jan 2010
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

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