Comedy Review: Jake Yapp's Bum Notes

Published on Tuesday 19 August 2008 09:24

JAKE YAPP'S BUM NOTES *** THE DRAGONFLY (VENUE 63)

EVERYTHING about this show puts you in a good mood. Some shows you can go to, laugh, and still feel a bit grumpy as you walk out into the pouring rain. Not here. The Dragonfly is one of Peter Buckley Hill's newest Free Fringe venues, and it is gorgeous – a beautiful bar and, in a little chandelier-lit anteroom, comfy seats and actual oxygen.

Yapp is a promisingly genial presence, despite the fact he is holding a ukulele. He is trying to get better at seduction, writes some of the most extraordinary erotic literature you will ever have read to you (only one copy at the moment, as a publishing deal inexplicably hasn't come through yet) and is hugely, inventively, funny (amazingly) on the subject of computers.

And then there are the songs. How often have you heard House of Pain's Jump Around played on the ukulele? Yapp's interpretation is slightly more hop than hip but it had three 17-year-olds in the audience singing along. The other songs are mainly all his own work, from Music and Laughter and Love to the singalong sea shanty that occasioned the production of an accordion. Mrs Yapp is on technical duties here, While Mr Yapp Snr is flyering (rather well) and rattling the bucket as you leave.

I don't think there are any other Fringe comics whose parents are so proud of their work that they flyer for it. Go and reassure them their son has made the right career choice.

Until 23 August. Today 4:20pm