Mark Watson, Pleasance Courtyard <!-- none onestar twostar threestar fourstar fivestar -->
Sin without the hellfire
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A ticket to Mark Watson's show I'm Worried That I'm Starting to Hate Almost Everyone in the World is money well spent, even if this hour doesn't display the skittish Bristolian at his best. The heat inside is stifling, which plays a part in sapping energy from the event, but equally the format doesn't serve the promising title.
Watson's central ruse is to have items pulled from a sack, representing one of each of the seven deadly sins, and to use them to express the irritations with life he has experienced. The items only seem to prompt the briefest of observations, and using the sins for structure seems rather clichéd.
Cute gags such as having a picture of the singer Mick Hucknall to represent anger or wrath ensue, as do sweet images like the true meaning of "mini-bar", complete with miniature people to populate one. Meanwhile, the Welsh stage persona of Watson, with his wide-eyed naivety and zeal, brings an extra dimension to jokes about people wearing football shirts with "Beckham" written on the back: "Many a time I have rushed up to them, only to find out that it's not him."
I don't know whether it is because Watson is one of the busiest men on the Fringe - what with his other show about writing a novel with his audience and his 36-hour extravaganza - but this show seems to lack the usual drive of its creator. However, what it lacks in content it makes up for in charm.
To 28 August (0131-556 6550)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments