The PBH Free Fringe is a significant part of the Fringe; both in size and in the quality and variety of shows.
Mark Simmons’ More Jokes. was an example of one aspect of the Free Fringe. Simmons is established name, who is in the midst of a substantial nationwide tour. He could easily do extremely well on the paid Fringe. He was playing at one of the PBH Free Fringe’s best venues, the cavernous Liquid Rooms (just off Victoria Street), which has a proper professional setup. This includes staff guiding fringe-goers to the right place, and a spacious bar area which is an ideal spot to chill between shows. It’s now fully covered- a good idea given Edinburgh’s weather.
A few minutes before the start, the large audience had assembled and were ushered down into the Annexe, where about 300 people could be seated. There was not a seat to be had. The buzz was palpable. There was a welcoming feel right from the start, with Simmons greeting the audience members as they entered, putting everyone at ease. Those familiar with him knew there was no threat if they sat in the front row; his the audience interactions are gentle.
In his tenth year of performing at the Fringe, Simmons show took us through the evolution of his career and the way that his act has changed over time. He clearly got a bit of a lift from seeing such a packed audience at a Tuesday lunchtime. This was in contrast to his early years on the Fringe, playing to a handful of people. This is in some way the Fringe dream that keeps performance coming back year after year, hoping to make it. People such as Simmons and Richard Gadd show that this is still possible.
What we now have, in Simmons, is a very polished performer who immediately made the audience feel at ease. It was clear that they were in the hands of an adept performer. The quality of the material was consistently high; the jokes were beautifully crafted and the humour unforced. At times he deconstructed his jokes, demonstrating how small changes in wording and delivery can radically affect the impact. This added to the sense of the performance as something everyone was involved in; a sense of inclusiveness.
Online, Simmons is known for his quick responses when asking audience members questions (for instance about their hobbies). This took up up segment of the show. Many of the responses worked beautifully but, in his relaxed manner, even when they didn’t, Simmons was unflustered and drew the humour from the ‘awkward’ situation. Indeed, many of the highlights of the show derived from unplanned interactions.
This is a show that I feel most people will enjoy; his humour has a warmth and inclusivity without being in any way mundane or safe. But, if you want to see his show, I’d recommend getting to the Liquid Rooms at least 25 minutes before, especially at the weekend.
Mark Simmons – More Jokes is at:
Venue 276- PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room Annexe/Warehouse – Annexe, at 13.45, until 24 August.
