John Gordillo: Cheap Shots at the Defenceless

More polished, contemplative and personal comedy with a strong message from director-turned standup Gordillo. An opening sideswipe at a certain online publication notorious for awarding five stars to shows willy-nilly won’t ingratiate him to every reviewer. But it’s a constructive rather than bitter criticism that, once juxtaposed against the Amazon bookseller who regularly scores top marks just for dispatching a package, sets up a nice line about modern-day feedback culture and how it’s affecting our ability to make informed decisions.

The bit about the demeaning injustice of soul legend Dionne Warwick appearing on shows like Loose Women, during which he neglects to mention her massive tax debt and bankruptcy case, suggests Gordillo’s somewhat selective with his facts. But you can’t help but nod along with his core argument, about how hollow and weird it is that so many big businesses currently favour anthropomorphising themselves in a bid to convince you they’re your friend. Be it mobile phone companies and their pally communications, or fried chicken restaurants advertised by smiling birds.

It begins to feel a little bit more like a lecture, slides and all, on sinister corporate tactics than a comedy show per-se. But by measuring these empty exchanges against complex relationships with his 18-year-old non-paternal "daughter" (the child of an ex-partner), and his hilariously shouty Spanish father, Gordillo ensures emotional investment. The resolve when it comes in the form of written responses to some of these needy companies ties-off the hour superbly. Not the funniest show on the Fringe, but one of the most thoughtful.