In Jack Skipper’s debut show he lays out his stall of exactly what he is: a grafter. First of all a grafter as a carpet fitter, then on TikTok and now in comedy – and it shows. There are gags jam-packed into this first hour introducing us to the man himself, topics with tangents and toppers scatter-gunning laughter throughout with apparently easy abandon.
He’s humble when he asks who might know him from his videos and who knows him from stand-up, the former a significantly larger group. It’s an easy in, with a lovely gag juxtaposing the recognition he now receives with the lack of income that’s manifested. He’s a Dad, a partner, a mate, a son, with stories about each of these roles that both endear and entertain as he ponders the evolution of kids’ packed lunches and the upward mobility of ham from child to adult food.
Throughout ‘Skint’ Skipper’s working class background is at the core of his perspective, painting vivid pictures of childhood coupon holidays and work place banter with tight writing and an eye for enjoyable pile ups of punchlines. Even off script he’s on the ball, exercising the crowd work skills regular MCing has honed, shutting down the few interruptions deftly, swiftly, and with bonus laughs thrown in.
If stand-up doesn’t work out, Skipper says, he can always go back to carpet fitting. He’s got a back-up. But this is his passion. And he’s prepared to graft for it.
Jack Skipper: Skint, 20.20, Until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Pierre%20Novellie%3A%20Must%20We%3F%22
