| 19 August 2011
Nathan Caton is a burly-looking bloke but, as his show makes clear, judgments based on appearances are often deceiving. Indeed Caton is as charming as he is chatty and is as likely to punch a kitten as Rolf Harris is: yes, he may tell little girls they are adopted if they smash him at his own ‘your mum’ jokes battle, but that is as ruthless as this guy and his comedy gets.
Personal anecdotes are casually threaded throughout, building a clear sense of Caton’s personal history, as well as his obvious devotion to his family. This confessional comedy is beautifully written and hilariously recounted: from enduring an agonizing hip-hop concert for the sake of his kid brother, to his firm-handed grandma making his primary teacher cry because she was fed up of ‘clearing his sh*t off the floor’ (school milk break + lactose intolerance = pissed granny).
Caton has great potential. Naturally blessed with comic timing and an effortlessly personable manner, no other comedian I’ve seen gets an audience so on side and captivated as quickly or with such apparent ease. He obviously enjoys bantering and building up a rapport with his crowd. Where he lets himself down is in his tendency to over-egg his point: yes, racial stereotyping is ridiculous, but after a handful of good jokes he must learn to move on. Otherwise, the topic and the laughs become stale. The best from Caton is yet to come, but he is definitely heading down the right track.
Nathan Caton: Get Rich or Die Cryin,’ Pleasance Courtyard, 3-29 Aug (not 16), 8.15pm
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