Alexis Dubus is a clever dude, and a funny one. His ‘3-Star Show’ definitely passes the Cuprinol test, so much so that it’s tempting to give him more stars. However, that would be completely unjust, indeed a disgrace. Dubus is indeed ‘one of the comedians of his generation’, and his show is pitched perfectly.
Urbane, deadpan, and self-aware, Dubus sets about his set with moderate gusto. His set combines the perfect blend of polished routine, and work in progress, making sure that the audience is highly amused, but not to the point of scaring any horses.
His parental anecdotes, and tales of fatherhood are droll. Social observations are accurate, and his mini-memoirs of time spent as his more famous alter ego Marcel Lucont are adequate. It’s safe to say that by the end of the hour, a good time had been had by all.
Kudos are also due to the smoke machine which puffed forth just the right quantity of smoke as required.
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His reflections on the Fringe economy, and the critics who cover it were mostly on the button. One presumes that Fringebiscuit weren’t invited to review the show, even if it’s a terrible pity we will never now see their review.
His simple, text-based powerpoint backing certainly added some additional chuckles, introduced with absolutely acceptable timing by his tech. It was impossible to disagree with anything the slide show said, Alexis, for example really does like to embelish his stories. So 5/5 for text-based accuracy. The font was also of a legible size and design.
Alexis is also, very nobly, seeking to redeem the venerable joke book, consulting his own at intervals, and running a selection of gags up the audience’s flagpole to see what flew. It’s an efficient way to design a show, and one hopes he got just the feedback he needed, just as the audience really very amused by some of the offerings.
So really it’s a 5/5 effort to Alexis Dubus: 3-star show, and let’s hope he comes back next year with just as much ambition, or even a little bit more. This is competent comedy done competently. Well done.
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