Comedy, and stand-up in particular, dominates the Fringe.
Some see this as in tension with the idea of the Fringe as a home for ambitious work that offers something different from the mainstream: a Fringe that is genuinely fringe. Underneath that tension sits an older question: is comedy an art form, or merely a form of entertainment?
A Fringe that is genuinely Fringe
In All It Takes, Alexander Bennett makes a strong case that comedy, done well, can be an art form with something substantive to say. The show mixes well-crafted video segments, well-performed songs and sharp observations, building steadily towards a genuinely cathartic ending. It is the kind of show that proves the real quality out there, including on the Free Fringe. I picked it almost at random, and it is exactly the sort of discovery that makes taking a chance on the Fringe worthwhile.
This is more a 9pm show
The Monday afternoon audience was small, and Bennett acknowledged as much: “this is more a 9pm show than early afternoon.” Despite that, and despite a latecomer (me!), he threw himself into the performance with real energy. It wasn’t a wild, manic energy, but one driven by a clear sense of having something to say and a desire to say it in a reflective, creative way, moving fluidly between modes. The show was never one-dimensional and never dipped in interest; there was a complete absence of lulls.
The story it told, of disappointment and the difficulty of truly communicating with others, isn’t new. But it was handled with intelligence and insight, and I doubt I was alone in feeling real affinity with much of what Bennett said. None of it felt forced or clichéd. It was clear too that the show had taken considerable effort to put together; nothing about it felt cobbled together, and some of the songs were outstanding in both performance and content, full of genuinely witty lyrics. None of this made the show po-faced, either. There was plenty to laugh at, with Bennett’s timing and asides doing much of the work, and the result was consistently engaging.
I’m not a content creator
Running underneath it all was a deep scepticism about mainstream comedy, particularly the kind driven by online, short-form content. “I’m not a content creator,” Bennett said, making clear he wanted work that aimed higher and said something more substantial. He was particularly irked by comedians who include sponsored segments, for gambling companies among others, in their shows, and he had a pointed swipe for those who took money to play the Riyadh Comedy Festival.
The best reaction I’ve ever had
The audience was small, about a quarter of what Bennett has consistently been drawing this Fringe, but he made a real effort to connect with each person in the room, and it worked. That created a genuine sense of togetherness, helped along by the show’s recurring collective breathing episodes. Bennett also fed audience reactions back into the performance, deepening the connection further. When one audience member responded to a particularly powerful song with a simple “Jesus!”, Bennett shot back: “I think that’s the best reaction I’ve ever had!” Despite lacking the larger crowd he deserved, he played off the small audience skilfully, never once making them feel exposed. We all felt we were in it together.
What could have been
The performance built steadily in tempo and theme towards a strong ending, one that even found room for a touch of magic. As Bennett left the stage, the music of Badfinger played, and that was no accident. The band, a brilliant power-pop act of the 1970s, had a tragic career: two members died by suicide, and lasting success eluded them despite the quality of their music. They stand as a classic case of what could have been, and a reminder that creative work is never easy.
That, in the end, is the show’s real theme: that taking your craft seriously and committing to it matters more than the scale of your ambition. All It Takes demonstrates Bennett’s clear commitment to his art. This was a high-calibre show that, with the kind of promotion a paid Fringe slot might bring, would rightly be drawing far more attention.
Alexander Bennett: All It Takes is at Cinema Room at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth, at 14.40 until August 30th.
