Ayo Adenekan @ Monkey Barrel Comedy
A rising star of Scottish comedy and writer on SNL UK, Ayo Adenekan shows bags of potential but this show is in need of some edge
Ayo Adenekan has been making his way up the Scottish comedy ranks in leaps and bounds over the last few years. Last year, his debut Fringe show, Black Mediocrity, proved he had the underpinnings of a soon-to-be household name. In this gentle and slightly subdued new hour, Homeland Insecurity, we see an attempt to move past initial introductions towards a more established narrative and theme: love. It’s a heartwarming hour, but the question lies in whether its material could be funnier.
We begin with some jokes about the difficulties of performing at the Fringe without funding, with Adenekan making a pun about CeraVe moisturiser in an attempt to conjure a brand deal with potential scouts in the audience. It’s a steady start, and Adenekan’s charm is immediately apparent. Moving into the show’s central theme, about falling in love with a woman at the Fringe and what this relationship meant to him, it all starts to feel a bit earnest. There’s an opportunity here for Adenekan to push this concept further and subvert it somehow. This is a lovely show but it needs an edge.
Homeland Insecurity remains steady, with neither many highs nor lows. Adenekan goes on to speak about his relationship with his parents and his love of the Edinburgh Fringe, but the punchlines feel few and far between. When they come, they don’t produce the huge laughs that have been built towards.
There are some stronger sections, where Adenekan speaks about coming out to his straight white male friends, and the many references to male bonding in B&Q. There’s also an endearing section about missing out on an award nomination to another comedian also by the first name of Ayo – the only other Ayo he’s ever met. Audience members smile throughout the show. His storytelling is enjoyable, if playing it a little safe.
Adenekan’s potential remains apparent and it’s clear why he’s loved on the scene, but this new hour needs more depth and a clearer angle. We believe he can deliver on this, he just needs a bigger push.
Ayo Adenekan: Homeland Insecurity, Monkey Barrel Comedy (Cab Vol 2), until 30 Aug (not 17), 1.30pm, £13.50/£12.50