Edinburgh Fringe · @ComedyReviewer
19th Aug 2018 from TwitLonger
Barry Ferns: Barry Loves You #edfringe #review
Barry Ferns: Barry Loves You
@ Just the Tonic - The Tron
Comedy Reviewer 8/10
Edfringe 4 stars ★★★★
I had a smile on my face from the second I entered the room as the music playing had been purposefully unprofessionally altered. Rather than "Mustang Sally", it's "Mustang Barry" and this theme continues into the next song before Barry eventually takes to the stage. This is a very funny show. Barry interacts with the audience as he works his way through his material. This is a show about love; the true meaning of it.
The show starts off well. Barry had done a great job warming up the crowd and the momentum keeps going as he ploughs through his material. The atmosphere is electric but things start to get a little more serious. The atmosphere drops a little and then a lot. Suddenly the show you think you're watching completely turns on its head.
People in the audience don't know what to do; they're here to laugh but things just got real. Barry lets it remain like this for some time, even addressing the situation making us feel all the more uncomfortable. Barry then steps it up as he lifts us again with a hilarious routine about what's in his head. This, thankfully, breaks the tension and suddenly it's okay to laugh once more.
It's a bloody powerful ending and I wouldn't be surprised if a few tears were shed. This is a well-crafted show but you never forget that it's all real. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll definitely feel the love.