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Bruce Dessau's rating
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Description: Stand-up from ther hard-hitting Brendon Burns.
Not what he used to be: Brendon Burns
With a temperamental ticketing system and a furore over four big venues forming a cabal-like comedy festival of their own, you could say that the Edinburgh Fringe has not been a bundle of laughs in the run-up. And on the opening weekend, Brendon Burns' show was not exactly end-to-end giggles either.
The outrageous Australian won the 2007 if.comedy award with one of the most memorable sets in years, but something has gone seriously wrong. Burns, wearing a Spartacus-style skirt, criticises Hollywood's "green-light syndrome", where hit-makers can deliver any old rubbish - and then promptly delivers any old rubbish himself. Maybe it is all one big post-modern joke.
As he bullishly yells, his previous shows have been for the critics, this one is for the fans. Except you would have to be a pretty indulgent fan to prefer knowingly dumb gags about Arnold Schwarzenegger, tired references to old movie Magnolia, jokes about unsophisticated Aussie telly and musings on paedophilia that feel as if they were scrawled on the back of an envelope five years ago.
Burns proved last year that he has the talent to be terrific. Perhaps a decade of frustration fuelled his 2007 victory. Success may have engendered complacency.
Winners of the if.comedy award are not eligible again, which some might say is unfair, but it will not be an issue here. Oh, and he got the name of the director of Conan The Barbarian wrong.
Until 24 August (0131 623 3030, www.edfringe.com)
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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