Michael Winslow Review

Submitted by Al Innes on Fri, 26 Aug '11 8.52pm
Image
Rating (out of 5)
4
Show info
Performers
Michael Winslow
Running time
60mins

Familiar to anyone who has ever seen the Police Academy movies, Michael Winslow's run at this year's Fringe has proven to be a huge success.

It's the first time the stand-up has brought a show to Edinburgh and his dexterous vocal talents seem to have fit in rather well.

Winslow, who voiced one of The Gremlins and made an appearance in Spaceballs, is a man who comes across as deliriously happy to be doing what he does.

That enthusiasm is infectious, and whether he is explaining the mechanics of AM radio or taking us through the TIE fighter dogfight from Star Wars: A New Hope, he does it with such a sense of mischievous pride that you can't help applaud the sketches.

Some of the observational comedy which ties the 'funny noises' together is under-cooked and often hampered the pacing of the show. So too the attempts to engage with the 'British' sense of humour. It seems rather unnecessary to include it, but kudos to Winslow for trying to give shape to what otherwise would be a rather manic sixty minutes.

At the end of the day the sound effects speak for themselves and that's what people have come to hear. For anyone looking for a good-natured evening of laughs (don't expect any blue material) you could do far worse than catching "the guy from Police Academy".  

Show times: Til 29 August, 8pm

TIcket prices: £11 - £14