Martin Semple ‘I Don’t Do Jokes’: Fringe Review

Billed as a soldier turned comedian, Semple’s recent turn to the profession gives him a surplus of material that focuses predominately around military life, thus providing the audience with some rather interesting, if somewhat distressing, stories. Making it clear that his brief 30 minutes is a preview to his début full show that will take place next year, he uses the opportunity to test the water seeing what sort of response he can get. The outcome of this is a selection of comedy that is rather hit and miss, excelling at points but falling flat at others. There is definitely an admirable side to hearing chilling tales transformed into laughable comedy, but it’s evident lots of work is still needed.

Laughing Horse at Finnegan’s Wake, 19 – 27 Aug, 12.00pm (12.30pm), free, fpp114.

tw rating 2/5

Taken from Three Weeks, published online Tue Aug 30th.