Edinburgh Fringe: Michael Che

Michael Che: Six Stars
Reviewed on August 9th, 2015
The Stand Comedy Club 3

by Bernie C Byrnes

Back in October there was an internet hoo-ha about Michael Che’s comments about catcalling. He even closed his twitter account in January as a result after accusing his critics of missing the point: ‘i think some of u are misunderstanding that post. im simply just making fun of something that is important to a lot of people.’ And that’s the root of Che’s comedy – poking fun at popular culture and questioning pretty much everything.

Che is clearly still feeling wary about it. ‘I have strong opinions,’ he warned the capacity audience, ‘please don’t blog about it’. So has he learned his lesson? I am happy to say he has not. He not only repeated his catcalling comments, he embellished them, much to the delight of the audience.

The show is a loose and disconnected commentary on modern life, expressing opinions that are extreme, ridiculous, wise and very very funny. He is a man mystified by the absurdities of life. At times audaciously offensive and mostly semi-improvised, Che riffs cheerfully on whatever topic occurs to him next.

His show’s title is, as you might expect, a tongue-in-cheek poke at his critics. ‘I called the show Six Stars because this is not about reviews,’ he informed us ‘I already reviewed it myself. There you go, six stars. Fuck it.’

One hour in Che’s company is like the best first date ever and leaves you certain you want to see him again. He’s bright, likeable – really likeable – and right-on in a non-PC way. His only fears, he tells us, are ‘God and white women’.

Che is the best type of subversive – he just won’t stand for stupidity of any kind. And despite a sardonic wit and dismissive delivery, there is no hiding that he is a kind and thoughtful man who is very very funny. Did I mention that already? He is very very funny.

Che has a fantastic attitude, a fabulous laugh and great material. Despite running over by 15 minutes, the show just wasn’t long enough.