| 12 August 2011
With his guitar in hand and a throng of (maturing) fans at his feet, the musical satirist Mitch Benn is more than ready to make his first solo Fringe appearance in twelve years. Also known for his work on BBC Radio 4’s Now Show and BBC1’s One Show, his admirers are plentiful. Should you be one of them, I’d buy your ticket now.
Weaving through the hour is a blend of songs and stand-up comedy. The latter is upbeat and charmingly delivered. Witty musings expound such diverse themes as his religious cynicism, and the three levels of diehard Star Trek geeks (Trekkers, Trekkies and Scientologists, if you were wondering).
His songs are funny and acutely observational, but given that everyone is over five years old, with titles like ‘I want an African baby,’ one cannot help but feel somewhat underwhelmed at the lack of fresh material on offer. The most ‘current’ of his offerings is a rap, which sets the plot of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the music of Eminem’s ‘The Real Slim Shady.’ The smug few who get both references are sufficiently self-congratulating. But, given that even Eminem’s original was released over ten years ago, this example is symptomatic of Benn and his devotees’ lost decade.
He is entertaining, however, and his song ‘I am proud of the BBC’ is a cult hit amongst the cognoscente. Mitch is currently working on his new studio album that will be released to coincide with his eighth UK tour with his band, The Distractions, which starts in November so there is hope yet. As for now, don’t expect anything you haven’t heard before.
Mitch Benn, The Stand Comedy Club III and IV, 4-14 Aug, 3.00 pm
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