Joz Norris: Hey Guys!

As anyone who attends lots of Fringe standup will know, pretty much anything goes on today’s stages, language-wise at least. But there is one word that strikes fear into the hearts of all serious comedians. That word is "zany".

The "z" word pops worryingly to mind during Joz Norris’s latest venture, and yet something about this curious man-boy stops everyone bolting for the exits. The perennially chirpy comic has been sporting ludicrous headgear while flyering, which appears mercifully briefly in the show itself, and on that flyer he looks an absolute idiot. No-one is more aware of this than Norris himself.

“At times in this show some of you will think ‘I really hate what you’re doing now.’ But just wait, I’ll soon stop,” he suggests, early on. And it’s true, he always does. Norris has a likeably childlike approach to creativity—hey, let’s just try it!—and while the Butlin’s Redcoat manner may drive many to distraction, you can’t deny his ingenuity.

Two standalone music set-pieces here are simple, silly, yet screamingly funny. There’s a tremendous Shawshank Redemption / Subway employee juxtaposition, and an admirable impression of a GIF. In fact the whole prop-filled production is performed with such wide-eyed joie de vivre that only the blackest heart could wish him ill, like an evil stepfather spitting on a toddler’s play.

It’s noticeable that even people who nip to the loo near the end come rushing back. You may hate bits of this, but pull a Shawshank and you could also miss something brilliant.