Navigating difficult themes like depression and anxiety can be tricky in a stand-up setting, but Jamie Wolf’s self-deprecating take on his own experiences comes across as genuine and sincere, while still bringing plenty of laughs. He opens with a run of anecdotes about his irrational fear of waterparks and skydiving before moving into the main premise of the set: the retelling of his overnight stay, or rather, imprisonment, at a psychiatric hospital.
His delivery is versatile, ranging from dry, matter-of-fact observation to slapstick chaos reminiscent of Jim Carrey, keeping the audience unsure of what’s coming next. Wolf’s storytelling is on full display throughout the hour, he builds suspense skilfully, letting it collapse into deliberate, awkward silences before breaking them with a punchline. Crowd work is minimal, limited to one early, awkward interaction that keeps resurfacing at just the right moments. The events at the psychiatric hospital sound so outlandish you might wonder if they’re even true, but don’t worry, he’s brought receipts.
The story itself shouldn’t be funny, given its bleak subject matter, but Wolf’s delivery, paired with the sheer strangeness of how events unfold, turns what sounds like a genuinely traumatic experience into an hour full of non stop laughter.
Jamie Wolf: Psycho, 21:40, Wee Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot, Aug 5–16, 18–30
