Paul Provenza is interested in one of those comedians who decide to push the boundaries of taste and decency at the first chance. For example, his film, The Aristocrats, is about a long running joke in the comic community, which involves coming up with the most disgusting show that a family cabaret act could put on. He views this type of comedy as not simply shocking for the sake of entertainment, but as a social force for breaking down stereotypes.
In his Fringe show, he asks guest comedians to perform some of their material and then sits them down on the sofa to have a chat and analyse their brand of humour.
Each night is different, but the time I went, the highlight was Tania, who is a midget. During her routine she encourages the audience to laugh at her features, which clearly, some people are very reluctant to do. Is Provenza taking advantage of Tania in some way? No, as she says, her ability to laugh at herself is empowering and forces those who may try to simply ignore her, to engage.
There are some awkward pauses as the comedians are not always certain how to answer the probing questions. However, Provenza’s enthusiasm seems to capture the audience, and for a moment, there is the feeling that we are all part of the comic community.
3/5
Gareth Braddick
