Edinburgh Festival: Alex Horne, Pleasance Courtyard - comedy review

In Alex Horne's brilliantly constructed show the bearded boffin engages in onstage DIY while delivering smart gags about parenthood, golf and squirrels
Bruce Dessau11 April 2015

At one point during Alex Horne's latest show, in which he spends much of his time building an elaborate surprise contraption, he asks "OK, fine, but is it comedy?" Well, the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award panel clearly thinks it is because yesterday he was nominated for their prestigious prize.

And they have made the right call. Horne has always specialised in inventive, humorous notions and in Monsieur Butterfly the bearded boffin comes across as both mad inventor and very funny jokesmith. While engaging in his onstage DIY he simultaneously delivers smart gags about parenthood, golf and squirrels.

If there is a more heartwarming hour on the Fringe this year your reviewer has not seen it. Horne has such a gentle, inviting manner that he can ask fans to lift him up or peel potatoes and they are more than happy to chip in. It is not all aimless fun, though. Everything is significant.

The result is not only a magnificent feat of multi-tasking, it also makes for a truly distinctive live experience. Will it beat nominees Sara Pascoe, John Kearns, Liam Williams, James Acaster, Sam Simmons or Romesh Ranganathan to first place on Saturday? Possibly. But even if Horne does not win this is still a brilliantly constructed show.

Until Sunday (0131 226 0000, edfringe.com)

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