The fact his venue was sold out was testament to the fact that Darren is an engaging and likeable comedian who is developing a higher profile. But is he absolutely side-splittingly hilarious? No. But that’s not a criticism. Maybe that’s not what people are looking for these days. Maybe that’s not what he’s shooting for. Maybe he doesn’t have to be. He is engaging and he was certainly amusing and his audience was indeed comprehensively amused. There was lots of gentle laughter at the appropriate points, but it was the sort of laughter that dies away after the first wave. That isn’t to say that it isn’t a good hour, just that the earth didn’t move, baby.
This is the case with a lot of modern comedy. It is the 7 out of 10 syndrome. Everything is delivered to a standard but nothing pushes it into the ‘must-see’ zone. The title of the show didn’t really land properly and I felt that he didn’t really flesh it out to make that happen.
His best material is rooted in his west midlands upbringing and what it was like to be a black kid growing up there. That’s home ground for him and is where he seems to feel most comfortable and I suspect where his audience likes him best.
I suppose the hardest thing to have as a comedian is a cutting edge. Something which makes you really stand out from the crowd. Whether that is by subject matter, show structure, or force of personality doesn’t matter, but without it, what have you got? Another amusing comedian. And that’s fine.
Darren Harriott – Roadman
Pleasance Beneath
19.40
Aug 9-13, 15-27
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/darren-harriott-roadman
