The Bearable Heaviness of Nearly Not Being is one the finer outings Markus Birdman has brought to the Fringe. Funny, reflective, and respectfully irreverent, here’s a comedian at the top of his game
📍PBH’s Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth – Cinema Room
📅 Aug 18-22, 24-28
🕖 5:10pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 55 minutes
👥 Creator/Performer: Markus Birdman
👥 Producers: Markus Birdman / PBH’s Free Fringe
💰 Pay What You Can
🎂 18+
🎭 Not fully wheelchair accessible
This isn’t Markus Birdman’s first time around the Edinburgh Fringe merry go round, and neither was it his first stroke that laid him low relatively recently. In his own words it took him 0.5 of a second to begin coming up with a show based on this life-altering hardship. So here is, back in the Banshee Labyrinth Cinema Room, less half his sight, wearied, but not broken; definitely not broken.
His routine is tremendously well put together, just tightly enough to nip along his central story in good order, but leaving space for the wild west of audience participation. Urbane in all things from past experiences with Acid, to unfortunate bumps in the toilet whilst on the sight impairment ward, Markus has his material under control.
He’s also a very, very funny man, droll if not quite deadpan, but never far from the unexpected quip, or dip into blacker-tinted comedy. Though he never makes light of his challenges, Markus mines laughter from the absurdities which attend even the gravest moments in life. It’s ultimately uplifting, just not in the schmaltzy ‘we’re all going to make it’ kind of way. No life is ever going to be free from suffering, but finding a little joy amongst the tears is a damn fine rebellion.
There are also no bare patches in Birdman’s set, and the only time the audience isn’t chuckling away merrily is precisely where he intends (or if not, he’s just that good at making it look intentional.) He isn’t pretending to some great wisdom, but there’s a lesson in being a celebrity patron to the Stroke Association held in suspicion of faking it by some of the members. What that lesson is, well you’ll have to go to the show and find out.
In a year marked by controversy over what’s “too” extreme in comedy, Markus Birdman is handling some serious, sensitive material, taking absolutely no prisoners, but with complete respect. Here’s to you not making a hat-trick Markus, the Fringe needs performers of your quality. Witty, honest, and downright funny, The Bearable Heaviness of Nearly Not Being is a Fringe must-see.
(Image Credit: Markus Birdman)
By
