Despite its name, there are very few quiet moments throughout this show as Dan Cook takes on the role of the crazed comedian in his conquest to entertain.
Cook has an ingenious way of warming up the crowd as he lets people play his unbelievably tricky wire buzzer game, in which everyone invariably fails. It’s this unorderly and chaotic energy that sets the tone for the next hour you spend laughing at Cook’s absurdity. He takes pops at the crowd in a very enjoyable manner, and this is all before his actual set has even begun.
Cook moves at a tremendous pace, firing out gags . He talks about his life at home before extensively discussing social media and how bizarre it really is. In this there are some genuinely hilarious lines as he takes aim at the family group chat and the strange overlord that is Zuckerberg. Cook is more than content to sit and watch the audience squirm as he waits in silence to add that extra bit of punch to his jokes. It’s techniques like this combined with his wide-eyed hysteria that make Cook’s style that little bit special. Yet it does feel at points as if he’s using this wild character and silly voice as a crutch for some slightly underwhelming material.
Cook hurtles on with some really relatable and entertaining observational comedy about Air BnB and Zoom calls that rarely fail to get a big laugh. It’s when he goes into his edgier content that reactions vary. Some of this is great (if you like dark humour) but it goes a touch beyond racy and into strangely Freudian territory when discussing his own mother.
You need to prepare yourself for this wild ride with Cook and while this show might not be for everyone, if you like him, you will quickly love him.
Dan Cook: Loud Bit, Quiet Bit, Loud Bit, Quiet Bit
20:15 at Bristo Square
August 14 – 29 (Except 15)
