Joel Dommett: Nunchuck Silver Medalist 2002

Reminiscent of Jack Whitehall, pretty boy comic Joel Dommett has bounded in to Edinburgh for his second solo Fringe show, held together by the premise of coming across a school adversary on Twitter.

An MTV news reader and an actor, Dommett has plenty of poise, charisma and confidence. Like Whitehall, his talents are probably best suited to the small screen, but, again like Whitehall, he does have a feeling for what’s funny beyond the average young and good-looking TV fodder. 

The problem is that once these OMG comics (ones who rely on volume, posturing and repetition over content) get hold of a humorous concept they can’t let it go until they have deafened it or given it the comedic version of a bludgeoning. So whether he is being mugged by a man carrying a rounders bat or standing too close to ground affected by the toilet facilities at a music festival, you can be sure volume was involved.

The premise of getting back at his school bully gives some light-touch coherence to the show, although many of the routines are not relevant and the show’s pacing is as dexterous as Dommett’s constant movement.

However, getting from A to B is one thing, but often the journey is uneventful (despite the fuss made in getting there) or the momentum of it seems to ruin the originally funny concept or anecdote. For example, a routine about his flatmate having sex to the sound of Dommett playing a video game has the right idea, but lacks the characterisation and emphasis to get the best out if it.