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Non Fringe 2009

Reginald D Hunter

The Only Apple in the Garden of Eden and Niggas

Plus Support act Steve Hughes

So here it is, the middle of October is upon us and it has been some time since we visited The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh, post Fringe recovery, holidays and everyday stuff getting in the way, but this was a gig we couldn’t possibly miss.

I saw Reginald D Hunter perform this show during the Fringe and thoroughly enjoyed it, and with Sheila having missed out we were early in line for this the second date on Hunter’s UK Tour, and we were not alone. The club was bursting at the seams at least 30 minutes before showtime.

Reggie is supported by one time rock star Australian Steve Hughes and although I was well aware of this guy by reputation, I had never seen him in the flesh before, only the occasional TV clip or on YouTube acting as reference points. He looks like the epitome of a rocker, ACDC tee, long hair and a beard, and has oodles of stage presence. Hughes is certainly not short of material for his set, scheduled for 25 minutes I reckon he did closer to 40, and nearly all of which was well received by the packed house.

He has an anti establishment feel to his set. He opines on drugs, Health and Safety, smoking, Amsterdam and Greggs were all subjects he has well observed and delivered material about. Hughes is a comedian I would really like to see again, and hopefully before too long also. He is way too good to be a warm-up, and certainly is a tough act for Hunter to better following the interval.

This is the fourth time Geoff and I have seen Reginald D Hunter at Edinburghs Stand Comedy Club, as a Fringe regular he is working larger and larger spaces so it is a great pleasure to have him perform in this intimate setting. Reg is fairly infamouse for utilising the word ‘Nigga’, this year “The Only Apple in the Garden of Eden and Niggas” is the title for both the Edinburgh Fringe and tour show. He takes the word embraces it and almost makes it his own, but this is only a small part of his show the credit crunch, being single, the government, British women, America, relationships, apples and sex being few of the many topics covered.

Reg is now single not bitter but definitely not looking for a pipe and slippers sort of relationship however he really manages to make it a very funny part of his show. Once he starts his set, World War Three could break out and I wouldn’t notice, as I am so fascinated by him and you really have to listen to his clever observations and concentrate on his southern drawl, more pronounced than usual by his recent return from the US, to get the full impact of the set. Quite a few profanities and deleted expletives are used but they are used more like punctuation marks than swear words. Anyone expecting to see the mild man who is often seen on various TV shows may be either very surprised or extremely shocked.

For further dates go to www.reginalddhunter.co.uk for dates leading up to London’s Soho Theatre in November.

I can’t wait till this gorgeous hunk is back, if it is to be Fringe 2010 so be it, The Edinburgh Stand Comedy Club has some fabulous line ups coming over the next few months for details go to www.thestand.co.uk.