James Dowdeswell: No More Mr Nice Guy

It’s a problem that all men are bound to encounter at some stage in their lives: just how does one deal with other people’s children when they’re acting like little shits? James Dowdeswell has come up with a novel, if not slightly extreme solution – flashing his bits at them.

Throughout his much-travelled set, Dowdeswell examines the thought processes and actions of fundamentally nice people when they are pushed to breaking point by society and all the little cretins in it. Furthermore, Dowdeswell speaks from experience in something of a cathartic exercise for the comic, who—with a lazy eye, ultra-curly hair and flag-pole physique—has the appearance of a man somewhat familiar with being put upon.

No More Mr Nice Guy is a nice enough routine and Dowdeswell is an engaging performer, although the subject matter is a little tired and he is by no means the only comic playing on the nice-guy-made-angry theme. The West-Country born stand-up does have the benefit of some cracking stories, though, and there can’t be too many at the Fringe who were best friends with a high-school shooter, albeit a non-fatal one.

Despite Dowdeswell claiming early into the set that No More Mr Nice Guy is his attempt to be more assertive in life, he is funniest when playing the victim – when his insight and situational humour is most sympathetic and relatable and his passive-aggressive responses are funniest.

Fans of Ricky Gervais’ celebrity-inspired series Extras may recognise Dowdeswell for his cameo as “Count Fuckula” a man who, if he sees something, he’s “just got to fuck it.” With luck this set should usurp that picture of Dowdeswell in Edinburgh’s collective memory.