Comedy review: John Robertson: The Old Whore, Assembly Hall (Venue 35), Edinburgh

By JAY RICHARDSON
Published on 07/08/2012 12:21

THIS is an odd show and was considerably more so on the night I saw it. Expiring in his stiflingly hot room, John Robertson halted abruptly, took a straw poll, and with his audience’s consent, led us outside to continue his performance on the street.

John Robertson: The Old Whore

Assembly Hall (Venue 35)

Rating: ***

It was there, engaging with some passing Jim Jefferies fans, brandishing autographed Jefferies “C***” mugs, that he denounced his fellow Australian as “the biggest c*** of them all”, just as the comedian exited the building, his affronted “Hey!” resounding through the darkness.

One awkward embrace later, Robertson made the first of various efforts to resume his tale – about his lying and abusive family; and his sexual encounters with the royal family, each element dripping with disdain for colonialism.

An overtly theatrical, darkly dandyish act, Robertson revels in causing a “scene” (and was conscious that he had reviewers in). With his rich, sonorous voice, diabolic persona and opulent turn of phrase, he’s fully committed to his storytelling. Lurking in an entertaining but confusing twilight of possible truth, probable fiction and grotesque lie, his complex yarns are often difficult to follow. Drawing in random elements from the night exacerbates that risk.

• Until 26 August. Today 10:15pm.