Review: Rhys James @ Edinburgh Festival Fringe (original) (raw)
Comedy
/ 13 August 2017
Review
It's fast and frantic, as the young comedian presents Wiseboy
“You haven’t called your show Wiseboy, have you?”
His dad’s words echo throughout the sold-out room as comedian Rhys James arrives onto the stage with an explosive energy. The room is sweltering, with eager comedy fans crammed into the bench seats. The answer to that question is of course yes.
Wiseboy presents Rhys’ rapid-fire hilarity, as he jumps from one joke to the next without much time to catch his breath. It’s a visceral swirl of frantic anecdotes, from his flatmates’ unusual behaviour to a particularly heart-wrenching (take our word for it) video of a racoon and some candy-floss. You know the one.
Rhys James oozes confidence as he bulldozes through his show. His response to some misjudged heckling is instant, and crushing. His high-energy performance remains even in these unscripted moments, simultaneously making him that bit more endearing.
But it’s the unexpected punchlines and occasional curveball that make him a must-see. Wiseboy is quick, on the nose, uncensored and unfiltered, delivered by an emerging shining light on the British comedy circuit.
Wiseboy continues at Edinburgh Fringe until the 27 August 2017. Rhys James hasn’t announced any further shows just yet, but follow him on Ticketmaster.co.uk to be one of the first to know when he does.