Ian Stone is Looking for The Wow – and he has found it with his Free Fringe Show at the Counting House. He acknowledges the open goal he has given critics by naming the show ‘Looking for the Wow’, but his material more than backs up its title during the hour-long set where the laughs don’t stop.
Ian greets the audience on entry which I suspect is a ploy to find out what he has to work with. If this is his trick, then it works as his crowd work is notably impressive, bouncing off the audience and managing to work in several heckles. Teasing an audience member’s love of jazz became a running joke, expertly woven into his existing material.
Embracing his Jewish background, Ian uses it as a launch pad to share his thoughts on the state of American politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Closer to home, he jokes about his kids, football club, music and Scottish independence. He delivers it all in a seamlessly conversational tone which draws the audience in just as the punchline lands.
If you are looking for a comedian who will make you laugh effortlessly then I would recommend Ian Stone to everyone – except maybe Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
The show may be free but every penny you can ‘generously give’ is deservedly earned.
Ian Stone is Looking for the Wow, 16:00, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House (The Ballroom) Until Aug 24 (not 12th)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ian-stone-is-looking-for-the-wow
