Jerry Sadowitz
- Comedian, Magician, Psychopath
Jerry Sadowitz
E4 Udderbelly’s Pasture @ 20:50, Aug 2-27 (not 14), (1hr), £12.50,
£14.50
***
This
isn’t so much a comedy or a magic gig but rather more an onslaught
of rabid mirthful hatred. At one point Sadowitz ponders why he doesn’t
get telly work anymore whilst clearly recognising that there is no doubt
as to the reason why… someone might see!
Yes, Jerry
Sadowitz is the kind of act that should only really be viewed by people
who know exactly what they’re letting themselves in for and even
then they should give themselves a swift reminder briefing beforehand.
I knew what to expect, but was still left reeling at some of the extreme
caustic banality of his outbursts. If the word ‘fuck’ and
it’s derivatives were taken out of this show, it would be about
twenty minutes long… if that!
Swear words
are wonderful and very useful in all manner of occasions, but if used
frequently, after a while they just become dull and overusing them wastes
their beauty and kills their power thus rendering Sadowitz’s employment
of them practically useless.
On a similar
note… Saying outrageously offensive things that sit way beyond
the boundaries of taste and decency can be absolutely brilliant comedy,
gasp-inducing comments are outrageously enormous fun. But when arriving
in a continuous barrage of tedious repetitive horror, it simply acts
to dampen their effect and provide the next insult to the audience’s
ears and brains with an even greater challenge. Possibly realising this,
Sadowitz saves his comments about Madeline McCann right till the end
and receives a suitably vocal response from the assembled hoards that
teeters on revolt.
The reason
why this behaviour is so increasingly depressing is that Jerry Sadowitz
is absolutely one of the finest fucking magicians living today (see
Jerry use it sparingly and it adds power!). He is a king of his craft,
totally at ease and absolutely unfathomable. But the tricks are few
and far between, and all you’re left with as you wait to be impressed
by him again is a torrent of unsophisticated venomous spew, as though
he’s set his mind on undermining himself.
More magic please… less mouth!
by
Ian Phillips
The
National Student's
2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
coverage is supported by
