Pierre Novellie was a paramount highlight of last year’s stand-up offerings at the Edinburgh Fringe. He returns in fine fettle, with a coming-of-age set which combines his orgin story with an assessment of the state of the nation.
Entering his ‘dad’ phase, sans sprogs, he finds himself reacting to harbingers of the UK’s decline, be it rampant shoplifting, or broken-down public transport, and also sceptical of his reactionary tendencies. Seeking to understand where he’s at, he dives into where he’s from, and the laughs begin.
Pierre Novellie’s schooldays as a ‘physically massive’ primary schooler provide ample chuckles. Never has sporting glory been relayed with such sighing resignation. His entirely French-sounding name also leads him into the weirdest of situations, first with a teacher, then with adult colleagues.
“Seeking to understand where he’s at, he dives into where he’s from, and the laughs begin.”
It’s when he returns to the present and his recent need to move house that the clever structure of the show reveals itself. Some say you can judge a person from how they treat others, but in ‘You Sit Here, I’ll Stand Here’ we’re invited to judge him on how he organises movers, cardboard boxes, and cleaner. It’s a surreal, often hilarious, and sometimes even exciting ride.
Along the way, he tosses in an instructive encounter with shoplifters, an idiot’s guide to our broken economy, and a short treatise (would it be a Pierre Novellie set without one), on what the popularity of The Traitors says about our society. It’s smart, well-observed material, speckled with clever throwbacks, and never over-indulged.
The two standout routines in the show concern his uniquely deranged gym, and the show’s finale, wherein he finally moves from an apartment to the suburbs. Both build to momentous pay-offs via a series of laugh-out-loud moments. The latter’s blend of Mission Impossible and ‘Some Mothers Do Ave Em’ is the sort of pacey, detail-rich schtick only the most skilled comics can pull off.
That said, there’s more ‘oh that’s interesting’ than outright hilarity in this year’s set compared to last. Fortunately, even when Pierre is neatly summarising the parlous state of the high-street, or exploring the tendency of us Brits to use noises to represent other languages, it really is interesting. In short, if you’re not laughing all the way through the show, you’ll smile the rest of the time.
Making the hour even more genial is the absence of a trauma dump. Pierre harnesses angst to power the show, not existential dread, and more power to his slightly grumpy elbow.
If it’s a smartly constructed, uniquely observed, and highly accomplished hour of chuckles you want, then Pierre Novellie remains a sure-fire bet.
Show details
Venue: Venue 515: Monkey Barrel Comedy, 9-12 Blair Street, EH1 1QR (Google Maps)
Date(s): Mon 28 Jul to Sun 24 Aug (28 shows)
Time(s): 7:05pm (60 mins)
Age recommendation: 14+
Price: From £10
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