Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Tony Law mentions at one point during his latest show that he doesn’t tend to allow reviewers in any more, because ‘it’s either a one or a five’. Well, not to be contrary but I feel like it evens out. 

It’s not clear why he chose this year to change his policy, given that his show is the same glorious ramshackle car crash as every other time I’ve seen him, but at some point you just have to accept that logic flows differently in the Tone Zone.

You can measure time in the Zone by the seasons of his accessories. The falconry glove is still here as it has been for several years, and the admiral’s hat is a new addition but he hilariously hasn’t worked out anything funny to say about it yet, so it’s largely vestigial at this stage.

Law spends the hour bouncing distractedly between different half-formed routines and ideas, with frequent screeching brakes applied to talk to the audience, mess around with the air conditioning, and comment on how well it’s all going (by his count we spend most of it ‘in a lull’ but I’m inclined to be more generous).

Listen, the man has funny bones so strong they could walk around on their own, but he’s never going to put them into any kind of structure that might show them to their best advantage, and I think we’ve all made our peace with that. 

So for me, every new show that he makes lives and dies by how much of it is new and how much I’ve heard before, and with this one, despite not having seen him live for a few years, I found I recognised a lot of the best material. And don’t get me wrong, it’s good stuff, but the foghorn impression he uses to buy himself thinking time is losing its lustre.

The new stuff though, when you haven’t heard it before? That’s a real pleasure. It’s lovely to hear about his daily routine in Edinburgh and how he goes to the cemetery every day to commune with Greyfriars Bobby, and a section about an old friend moving Law’s cat off the kitchen table brought the house down.

It’s always nice to hear his interest in history come to the fore as well. His material about the Mongol hordes tenderising felt and meat under their saddles is a great starting point, but could have been polished and honed a little more, in another life.

I have huge affection for the man, and wouldn’t change him for the world. If you’ve gone three years or more without seeing him, it’s time to check in. 

Review date: 14 Aug 2025
Reviewed by: Tim Harding
Reviewed at: Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive)