Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

Shane Torres brings a strong sense of place to Skinned Knees, both geographically and socio-economically. Set in his working-class, conservative hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, it is a sad family tale of a deadbeat dad and indefatigably hard-grafting mum. 

With his sonorous, gravel-edged voice and darkly poetic writing, Torres vividly conjures up the toxic masculinity that leaves his brothers permanently emotionless and his father unable to confront his many issues. ‘There’s a place for macho shit,’ the languid comic observes. ‘But you need someone to bridle it.’ 

In the Torres family, that was mum, an Irish nurse who toiled at the local hospital while trying to keep the family together after the comic’s feckless dad left them in a dismal situation. Shane became ‘the man of the house’ – a heavy responsibility to burden young shoulders. As was the time he had to help his dad move into a joyless homeless shelter.

Torres brings this all to life so vividly that he has to remind us to laugh, lest the depressing situation overwhelm the dark absurdity of the incidents which he aims to bring out. Stories that cause disquiet now, especially some rather contemptible parenting, were considered normal in his family at the time. 

This is set up as a ‘dead parent’ show at the start, courtesy of a gallows-humour description of a slapstick real-life incident involving mum’s ashes – though being forewarned doesn’t lessen the impact when the end comes. Torres warmly remembers his mum, and even, in certain moments, his dad as he reflects upon how damaged people do damage.

The comic tells it straight – or at least gives the impression of doing so, like a man opening up at some Texan dive bar after midnight. However, like many shows of its ilk, Skinned Knees probably slips down the gap between not funny enough for comedy, the mordant observations notwithstanding, and not dramatic enough for theatre.

But it is a vivid portrait of the people and place which birthed him, with this compelling storyteller able to share his feelings in the way his taciturn brothers never could.

Review date: 25 Aug 2026
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Assembly Roxy