Owen Powell –
The Two Closest
Starbucks in Britain
Owen Powell
Pleasance Courtyard @ 18:00, Aug 1-27 (not 14), (1hr), £8.50 (£7.00), £9.50 (£8.00)
****
With this show, Owen Powell joins the growing ranks of documentary comedians. It’s a stand-up genre I particularly like, possibly due to my love of trivia, but perhaps also because it tends to take the form of dawdling eccentric tales of adventures. Adventures with little justifiable purpose other than the fact that the adventurer themselves quite fancied doing it, and they thought it would be good. It’s a bit like being witness to a post-holiday slide show, but one that’s actually enjoyable to watch.

Given the inevitable associations to the work of Dave Gorman, Powell is quick to point out that this endeavour to seek out the two closest Starbucks in Britain is not the product of some jokey bet or challenge, it’s just something he felt like doing, something he decided he’d quite like to know.

He is equally quick to explain (and rightfully so given the subject matter) that this is not some quest against capitalism and vigorously expansionist commerce, but merely something he became intrigued by. And before long you’re sucked in, and equally intrigued. As his multi-media presentation unfolds you begin to clamour for the knowledge that the show’s title promises. Knowing this, Powell teases the audience as he shows us Starbucks branches throughout Britain gradually getting closer and closer.

One slight flaw that comes with getting sucked into his pursuit for proximity is that after a while, I found myself doubting his science. I began to feel that his methods were a little half-arsed, slightly short of the mark. I longed for a greater precision in his efforts. As Powell measures the distance between coffee outlets by the number of steps between them, I couldn’t help thinking about how this all might have felt better if he’d used one of those wheels on a stick. This kind of show is dangerous for me really… I get too involved.

I wasn’t the only audience member to get involved, as oohs and aahs began to accompany the reveals of Starbucks branch distances, we all clamoured for the final reveal. This only caused the show’s rather unhappy ending to become rather more sad. Almost a tear-jerker. How can this show have an unhappy ending? Well you’ll have to go and see.
Altogether a very enjoyable hour, cheery and enticing. Addictive in fact, as before long you’ll surely find yourself measuring the distance between coffee shops yourself. A dangerous distraction from the life you ought to be leading.

by Ian Phillips

The National Student's
2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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