Like all of us, Watson hasn’t got out so much this year. The usual show testing ground of the Adelaide Fringe, an Australian tour and Edinburgh Fringe have all been bypassed due to covid, meaning the debut of his new show This Can’t be it comes to the Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) and the crowd is lucky to witness it.
Watson argues he is rusty and for us not to expect the “finished article” this evening, but his brain soon whirs into action and laughter emanates from an appreciative gathering throughout this entertaining hour of whimsy and funny observation.
The pandemic looms large on Mark’s mind; once afraid of flying and paranoid of many aspects of being trapped in the sky, Watson confesses he’d love to pop onto a plane, mainly because it would mean he was on his way to work. Covid also has meant inappropriate interactions with his neighbours, stemming from trampoline envy and terrible Spotify playlists.
The comic is on top form dealing with his outdoor critics, a squeaking dog and the odd cawing seagull here and there and interacts with his audience fabulously, culminating in an exchange with a man in the theatre to assess what age his telephone app says he’s going to die; it’s a jovial and very funny interchange.
By the end of the piece, although Watson has only completed a fraction of his intended material, he has captivated and delighted the crowd in equal measure. Hopefully, he is not lost in the vortex of Hassocks forever, imprisoned in the Sussex Bermuda triangle, because Watson still has a lot to offer the comedy world. He’s fun to watch and provides a wonderful hour of hilarious stories.
Reviewed on 25th October 2020
The Reviews Hub Score
Remove term: Wonderfully Shambolic Wonderfully Shambolic
