Comedy review: Jordan Brookes: Body of Work

Edinburgh Festival Fringe: Jordan's nan is dead. Which is probably just as well, given what he does to her at the end of this crazy, wonderful show. But there is a lot that happens before granny gets'¦

Laughing Horse @ Finnegan’s Wake (Venue 101)

****

Jordan’s nan is dead. Which is probably just as well, given what he does to her at the end of this crazy, wonderful show. But there is a lot that happens before granny gets…

Anyway, Jordan Brooks is a startlingly talented comedian. Some painfully funny clowning is hung on the thinnest of narrative lines along with talking body parts, bad thought marbles and the mathematics of guilt-free smoking. There is not a single moment in this comedy hour that is expectable and that is a real headrush. I cannot remember the last time I was so eager to find out what the next funny in a show was going to be, and for that funny to come at me in such ever-mutating form.

This is the comedy of constant discombobulation and it is glorious. Fans of mime are in for a treat, as are fans of fellatio. His hour constantly spins, pin-sharp, from one reality to another, and I rather enjoyed patting Richard Gadd on the head murmering “shush horsey”, as the man on my other side did the same to me. This is a clever, naughty show that plays with its audience like a cat with a toy mouse. There is much comedy jeopardy when laughs come from dementia and bowel cancer. But I found this show as funny as Jordan’s shoulders did. And that is funny!

Until 27 August. Today 6:15pm.