Best of Popcorn Comedy

If your idea of a good time involves going round to a mate's house and being forced to watch their favourite Youtube clips in bored, bemused silence, then you may count yourself among Best of Popcorn Comedy's target audience. The multimedia show purports to combine the funniest online films available with live sets by the best comics at the Fringe. What it gives audiences in practice are more Downfall-with-funny-subtitles virals and appearances by talented comedians whose material would benefit greatly from a more suitable context.

Caroline Mabey, an inept host whose “no wanking tonight!” opening gambit is frankly embarrassing, kicks the show off by asking if anyone present has attended a Popcorn Comedy night before. When met with no response, she concedes “Why would you?” noting that “no one ever comes back.” Some members of the audience chuckle under the assumption that they are privy to a self-deprecating joke. Fast-forward 60 minutes and several walkouts later, as a wheezing, animated carton of popcorn bids them “Goodnight, shit-holes” and it turns out the joke has been on them all along.

Although things improve with Simon Munnery's brief turn, he serves to remind punters that there are far more worthwhile shows to seek out during the festival. By the time Rob Rouse performs his solid headline set, the audience, having been subjected to an interminable stream of unrelated two-to-three minute clips, is too desensitised to connect with his act in any meaningful way.