John Tothill @ Pleasance Courtyard
This Must Be Heaven is a breakout hour of gossipy gluttony from John Tothill
In an hour initially framed as a sermon on 19th century oyster rogue Edward Dando, John Tothill’s third Edinburgh Fringe show is a multi-layered whirlwind of goss on gluttony, cruise ship disasters and medical misadventure.
Everything Tothill does himself is gluttonous – his breathless delivery, his love of the Fringe which pushed him to two different medical lows, and his joie de vive. It’s such a pleasure to be in his company whilst he revels in this excess.
There’s something magnetic about Tothill’s presence: it’s scatty, catty and camp, but in a way that’s inclusive to everyone. Even though he seems like the world’s biggest gossip, he always makes you feel like you’re part of the gang. He’s very pleased he can share his secrets with you specifically, and he only speaks so quickly because he has so much he’s desperate to tell you.
There’s almost a shaggy-dog style structure to the show too; wanting to tell you about Dando but getting utterly distracted by everything and everyone. However, spontaneous distraction like this, to tangents which are both witty and engaging, requires great skill. It’s almost by sleight of hand that Tothill ultimately lands on the tale of his appendix issues during last year’s Fringe, and by quite literal sleight of hand (thanks to Britain’s Got Talent’s comedian-magician Mandy Muden) that the show has a spectacular end.
In this third solo hour John Tothill has truly established himself as a comedian. His previous two shows saw him settle into this persona on stage but in This Must Be Heaven, he’s joined presence and punchline in happy matrimony. With this level of comedic skill and command over his audience, Tothill’s destined to be a household name in no time.
John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven, Pleasance Courtyard (Beneath), run ended