By Colin Flaherty
Geordy Gavin Webster has been a fixture of the Fringe since the early 2000s and he once again presents us with a provocatively titled show. An Hour of Swearing and Shouting does exactly as it says on the tin, so he hopes that silences the people complaining that he’s too offensive.
In addition to liberally dropping the F Bomb, he focuses on the topics of offence and swearing to deliver an hour of routines and stories about the use of a spicy lexicon. He tells of brutal unsolicited reviews from audience members, US comedians’ attitudes towards offence and euphemisms for swearing on televised football. He references many British celebrities and politicians that makes it slightly impenetrable to foreigners but it’s easy to get the gist of his points.
Webster arrives on stage in the traditional uniform of the club comic – black suit, white shirt and loosened bow tie. Unsurprisingly he pretty much delivers a banger of a traditional club set, albeit one with an overarching theme. These are relatable working class jokes told by a working class lad. With the Chekhov’s gun of a guitar on stage, he teased us with musical comedy delight but it is only used for the finale plugging his Patreon.
He has a breathless delivery that throws jokes at you rather than presenting them to you. It is at such breakneck speed that he seems to trip over his words in an interesting speech pattern that echos the patter of old school music hall comedians.
For those looking for a solid hour of hilarious stand up, Webster’s your man. Just don’t complain about the language.
An Hour of Swearing and Shouting is on at The Stand until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gavin-webster-an-hour-of-swearing-and-shouting