August 12, 2010

I sometimes wonder if the only reason I spent four years of my life studying Theology at University was so I could understand particularly sophisticated God jokes at the Fringe (the degree has literally no other practical applications, especially for an Atheist – and yes, I realise I may have made some poor choices in my youth).

So Richard Herring’s show, Christ on a Bike, has a similar affect on my ego as the obligatory biblical question on University Challenge – it helps me think that I have not wasted the formative years of my life. Unlike University Challenge, Herring’s show has more references to spunk. It also made me laugh. A lot.

Herring had me doubled-over with laughter from almost the very start, and certainly well after the act had finished – his genealogy of Christ routine is one of the best things I have seen this Fringe.

But I don’t want to give the impression that this show is only enjoyable for people whose intellect was bludgeoned by Sunday school or who made poor educational choices – above all else, it simply is very funny. A great deal of that is due to Herring’s excellent delivery, he is at the top of his game and manages to make comedy look effortless. If you see nothing else this Fringe, see this.

Rating: ★★★★★ Actually, I would like to give Herring 6 out of 5. Impossible, yes, but God got away with breaking the fundamental rules of maths with the Trinity (He is three and one at the same time? eh?) so why can’t I?