Review by Julia Chamberlain

American comic Graham Clark makes an impressive Edinburgh debut with an hour of deceptively relaxed comedy. There was rolling laughter in the room from beginning to end and any part of his act would make an enviable set of quality circuit comedy.

He’s got an uncontrived comedy look, Womble shaped, wispy haired, like a scrubbed-up homeless guy with good teeth. Some of his opening remarks aren’t groundbreaking – being fat, the contraceptive effect of beards, Pizza Hut being a bit rubbish – but then whose are? However there is a simplicity and freshness to him that is really endearing. There’s no fat or waffle on what he does: he may look like a shambles but the comedy brain is sharp as a tack.

He chatted to people in the audience to some purpose and without setting them up for a pre-prepared fall, which was refreshing. It was most unusual to watch a comedian with a capacity for empathy. He spoke about being vegetarian and having an interest in environmental issues without being sanctimonious or worse, obvious. He made it looked so easy.

There were some lovely offbeat bits about going to prison for frightening the Queen, observations about Blackpool, and the difference between drunk and sober Graham that made the audience feel complicit in his mischief. He’s blessed with some turns of phrase that conjure up powerfully hilarious mental images. In a festival where there’s so much high-energy bollocks being talked, this easy-going pace and consistent hit rate is a real pleasure.

Review date: 9 Aug 2013
Reviewed by: Julia Chamberlain