Writer: Jake Baker
Director: David Hardcastle
“Masculinity is in crisis!” Jake Baker informs us at the start of his show. For the next hour Baker then explores what we have come to know as The Manosphere, seeking to understand how it came about and not just point a ‘woke’ finger and call it stupid. He succeeds with humility, heart and heaps of humour. It is quickly evident that the audience is in the presence of someone who is quite comfortable with their level of manliness. What for some could be construed as self-deprecation comes across as self-awareness and self-confidence.
Electing to build a whole show around such a weighty topic must surely have presented quite the challenge. Baker rises to it effortlessly thanks to his natural, conversational style, which is punctuated with a healthy portion of laugh out loud punchlines. The ease of Baker’s presentation belies the intelligence of the writing and allows the audience to immediately relax in his company. In turn this allows Baker to deliver a blend of storytelling comedy, quick jokes, and off-beat interludes seamlessly, while providing some subtle and some not-so-subtle social commentary. This is a stand-up set which is not only well delivered but well researched.
The show swings from a strong argument for feminism being great for men to hilarious jokes involving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and throws in a plethora of animal facts (the verity of which may at times be questionable). Baker’s clever achievement during the hour is to remind people to be respectful, to think about why people think and act the way they do, and to remember to find it all a bit funny.
Your reviewer has no doubt that this show will be a hit with audiences in Edinburgh.
Runs until 1st July 2026, and then at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Hoot 4 at Hoots @ The Apex, August 7th to August 31st at 13:15)
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
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8
