When Aaron Barschak "burst" onto the scene at Prince Williams birthday bash the general reaction was one of confusion about who this man was, indeed it took up a fair amount of the tabloids for the next couple of days. Whether this warrants a month long run at the Edinburgh festival is debatable. To be truthful I wanted to know if the extravagance of that, and a number of stunts was the work of a fresh new satirical genius or a desparate attempt for anyone to talk to him........ or both. I must admit I'm regretting my curiosity. With the £6.50 it cost to get in I could have bought 20 Rothmans and a bottle of meths and had a better time.

 

Though natually cynical after reading the Herald review ("as much fun as watching orphanages burn down") I entered the damp underground venue (claustrophobics beware) with an open mind. The standard was set fairly early on, the announcement was made for "the Jew with no name" and Barschak entered as a Brooklyn speaking Clint Eastwood. Thankfully, after explaining "how the West Bank was won", he unmasked and got on with it. One fears by then it was too late! 

 

What followed seemed to be an intention of suicide, both professionally and when he emerges in public! As the act wore on he was running out of religions and beliefs to dig at. "Orangemen marches,whats all that about?" One of his staff should have advised him that Scotland and more over Glasgow has several thousand people who would be willing to show him! Then certain ill advised comments about the Comedy scene as a whole probably didnt help his cause! In reference to when he ran on stage at Spike Milligan's tribute show the comment "Spike woud have appreciated it" set my teeth on edge! To even compare talents is an insult! Baarshak then went on to say the comedy industry has no sense of humour, presumably thats why Bill Bailey and Ross Noble have sold out at the top venues all month and he's wearing a dress standing infront of forty bored students in a hot leaky cavern. I'm sure Mr Bailey is crying into his beard!!

 

The rest of the show was a blur of humourless interaction with an increasingly disinterested crowd and self congratulation. He went into huge detail about his stunt at the Prince's party. It was abuntantly clear from the start that the only reason he did it was to get some/any material for a show! With a brief game of "Hebronopoly" (I know I know! I was very aware that I was nowhere near the exit!) and a few verses of sweet home Al'Qaeda the ordeal was over. I felt like I'd been a victum of terrorism myself! Such a hijacking of anyone's time and money is surely deserving of a special forces rescue attemp.

 

This was a hasty, rushed piece of amateur comedy which can't really be called satire. The irony of the venue was not lost though. Claustophobics beware, get out before this show gets buried. A member of the audience put his hand up and asked "Aaron, after a stunt like that, where do you go from here?" May I suggest the Edinburgh Job centre?