The Super Serious Show

Review by Tony Makos | 14 Aug 2012

Deep in the back corner of the George Square Gardens a wonderful circus style tent called the Bosco hosts The Super Serious Show, a multi-act line up that has the added feature of showing a video or two from the US website Funny Or Die.

Tonight this moderately sized venue was packed to the, um, third row with 10 audience members including myself, an awkward evening looked inevitable. We needn't have worried. Host Jessica Fostekew coped admirably with the sparse numbers – it's an excellent compere that can make a small audience comfortable, and Fostekew was clever and entertaining.

First act up was stand-up Matthew Osborn whose slick two/three liner style was never less than satisfying but did unfortunately suffer somewhat in this environment. Irish sketch trio Foil, Arms & Hog burst on to the stage next with a selection of impressive and superbly performed sketches  a re-enacted TV chat line advert was brilliantly awkward and bodes well for their full show. Finally, John Luke-Roberts was able to gently insult every single audience member by name before setting up a run of puns so audacious, Andy Zaltzman will be fuming when he hears it. A diverse and fulfilling evening despite the turn out – go and catch The Super Serious Show. Line-ups like this are too good to miss.

The Super Serious Show, Assembly George Square, until 26 August, 20:55, £13/£11 http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/super-serious-show