Reginald D Hunter: Some People vs Reginald D Hunter

A perfect hour of comedy to signify Hunter's first year back doing stand-up.

Reginald D Hunter: Some People vs Reginald D Hunter

The lights dim, we simmer to a silence and we expect a booming voice to come over the tannoy announcing Hunter. Instead, a spotlight shines on stage and Hunter rolls out in a wheelchair – he's broken his leg.

Addressing everything from his hiatus, to his dad, debating racists on Twitter for sport and, of course, Trump et al., one of Hunter's best assets is his pacing. He reveals that coming back from a rest from comedy, he felt rusty when he first rejoined the circuit this year. As such, he must have had a vast amount of material to fit into this show and preen ready for Edinburgh and it feels that way – but not in such a way that feels overly rehearsed.

He's the first to admit that his comedy is controversial, riffing on transgender women and the ease with which he uses the n-word, among more. But I feel he could've gotten much more controversial before needing that disclaimer.

Nevertheless, he's able to make the entire Main Hall of the Assembly Hall erupt with laughter with near all of his jokes. With his musings on British quirks told through conversations with his family in Georgia he gets the most laughs: "British racists don't shoot you."

Without dedicating too much of the show to politics, Some People demonstrates a master class in mainstream stand-up. At 45 minutes, he admits to having gotten his timings wrong and brandishes a more sober, narrative based blade compared to his ordinarily quick fire swordplay.

He speaks about visiting his dad earlier this year and his anguish at his dad's hurtful opinions. An extended story, it seems like Hunter has gone off on a serious segue, and the confusion in the change of direction in observable, but it ties up very nicely.

When you see a comedian of a certain status, you can never say that their status equates to a failsafe routine. Hunter presents himself as a cerebral comedian with every performative grace in his back pocket and whose successes are completely warranted.


Reginald D Hunter: Some People vs Reginald D Hunter is on from 22-27 August at 22:30 at the Assembly Hall, The Mound. For tickets and more info, visit the Fringe website.

Author

Bhavesh Jadva

Bhavesh Jadva Voice Team

Former Media Editor on Voice and former Arts Award Editor on AAoV covering film, TV, music and comedy.

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