There’s much to admire in Dave Ahdoot’s Edinburgh Fringe debut, ‘Ethnically Ambiguous’. A retrospective of Dave’s eventually illustrious career as an actor in commercial advertising, the show’s title refers to his non-classifiable complexion. He credits his resulting ability to tick a whole column of demographic boxes in just a few frames of a national campaign, with much of his success.
Far more deadpan than ‘high energy’ as billed, Dave exhibits a talent for impassive self-dissection. Assisted by ample footage of his various triumphs and disappointments, ‘Ethnically Ambiguous’ also benefits from showing as much as telling.
His story is unquestionably interesting, and to me, compelling tales of the path less trodden are part of the Edinburgh Fringe’s lifeblood. The tension between a younger Dave’s ambitions and the on-screen results produces many of the early laughs. That and his singular talent for eating and dancing at the same time.
“Far more deadpan than ‘high energy’ as billed, Dave exhibits a talent for impassive self-dissection.”
His choice of metric when financial success finally arrives is a terrific piece of comedy alone. Kudos are also demanded, as Dave let me through the door on his first performance in Edinburgh. He’s a cool customer, and he knows his stuff. That said, his other measurement of success being access to sex will grate with some.
From my point of view, the show needs to build up its emotional subtext a little more. The motivational finale depends on audience investment, and it takes more than a sprinkling of insights into Dave’s fraught dating history to accomplish this. We also know a great deal about the adverts Dave did book, and very little about the others. Creating a greater sense of challenge along the way makes the cathartic pay off that much greater.
However, his tales of casting adventures and misadventures prove consistently interesting right to the end. He makes some excellent fun at his own expense and is prone to making observational zingers at the least likely moments. Judging by the meticulous technical notes and adjustments being made throughout the preview I sat in on, I anticipate a stronger show tomorrow, and the day after that.
Show Details
Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Bothie
Dates: Jul 31 Aug 1-12, 14-26
Showtimes: 20:00
Running Time: 1 hour
Age Recommendation: 16+
Price: From £9 (concessions available)
Accessibility
The performance space, ‘Bothie’, is not wheelchair accessible.
The venue, ‘Gilded Balloon Patter House’, has provided the following accessibility information: ‘All bars and venues can be accessed by stairs or a building lift. Please speak to a member of staff on arrival if you require assistance or need to be entered into a venue early. For further access information about Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose visit our Accessibility Page: http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk/accessibility or email accessibility@gildedballoon.co.uk. Limited access to some parts of venue site, Wheelchair accessible toilet, No reserved accessible parking, On street blue badge parking, Assistance dogs welcome in all areas. Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose is situated on Chambers Street. The pavements are wide but become busy during the Festival. There are three stairs at the main entrance to the building. Those requiring use of the platform lift enter the building approximately three metres along from the stepped entrance. Members of staff in pink t-shirts are on hand to assist entrance and exits from the building’.
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