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ED2014 3/5 Reviews ED2014 Comedy Reviews
Brent Weinbach – Appealing to the Mainstream
By Bruce Blacklaw | Published on Saturday 23 August 2014
US stand up Brent Weinbach’s website describes him as ‘absurdist’, ‘weird’ and ‘post-modern’. In other words, this isn’t going to fly for everyone, and that’s kind of the point. His chosen topic is the tropes of mainstream comedy. Here, in the UK of course, we already have Stewart Lee to look after this sort of thing and though they are not actually that similar, Lee fans will be familiar with this style; the dead-panning and the meta-commentary that underpins the show. Weinbach is mostly concerned with American comedy, and some reference points will whoosh by accordingly. He contrasts a series of mainstream pastiches with his own style of comedy – fair to say he doesn’t go for the easy laughs. It is at times insightful and challenging. Funny? Not for everyone.
Gilded Balloon, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Bruce Blacklaw]