Fool On is a mental health charity that helps and supports people with their mental health and with mental health recovery, through workshops across Lanarkshire, including in Wishaw, Bellshill, Cumbernauld and Motherwell. These groups include karaoke, music tuition and creative writing (Motherwell only). The charity has run for over 10 years now, first starting back in 2015.
The Fool On Comedy Crew are a group of individuals who attend the Fool On Comedy workshops every Tuesday night in Coatbridge, tutored by Glasgow comedian Raymond Mearns. For the last two years they have performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In those years the crew have also performed at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and sold out their show this year.
I went to see their show which is running from 23 to 31 August at Hoots @ Hilton, Doubletree by Hilton, 34 Bread Street. The show started at spot on 3.50pm and was hosted by Raymond Mearns and Jonathan McNally. Both hosts were an absolute delight and certainly had the audience laughing prior to the acts taking to the stage.
Robert
First up, we had stand up from a gentleman called Robert, whose set was straight talking and funny. It included themes and topics that are seen as taboo within our country, like death and loss. Robert’s set was a story about his mother’s ashes. The story was brutally honest, but in the best way: it normalises not only speaking about death but also sharing stories that are genuinely funny that may arise in some of the hardest points of our life.
Are you ready for the end of the world?
Next, was a sketch called “Are you ready for the end of the world?” It focused on two couples, one of them preparing for the end of the world. The sketch was generally hilarious from start to finish. All four of the actors were fantastic, their acting convincing and natural. The plot of the sketch was made even funnier because it was made more real by mentioning things such as panic buying toilet rolls that have happened in relation to real world events.
Jacqueline
Then came more standup, this time from a lady called Jacqueline. Jacqueline was an absolute delight: her standup spoke about today’s cosmetic industry and all the different surgeries women feel they need to feel beautiful. She spoke about this topic in a way that made it truly hilarious, including comparing Brazilian Butt Lifts to women having spacehoppers in their bums. What I found most powerful about Jacqueline’s standup wasn’t just that she was promoting body positivity, but that she was still able to perform standup that was aimed more towards females to an audience made up of mostly males.
David
After Jacqueline there was another man called David. David truly made me laugh from start to finish. He brought something different to the stage. He spoke openly about being in a co-dependent relationship for 23 years and how getting out of this has allowed him to be his true self. He not only had the ability to make people laugh by speaking about a very personal experience, but the confidence and self-esteem to walk onto the stage in a crop top, sparkly silver sequin long jacket and sparkly black trousers. Paired with a crossbody bag and high heeled boots to finish, the look was just fabulous! He is a true asset to today’s society: he doesn’t only perform to make people laugh but to show people that you should have the ability to be whoever you are and wear whatever you want without the fear of judgement within society.
What if your mum won the lottery?
This sketch was an enjoyable one. I didn’t find it as funny as the previous one, but it was still enjoyable. The sketch focused on a mum and her three children whom she hadn’t seen in eight to 12 years due to different reasons, however, her children come to visit her after hearing she has won the lottery. The sketch didn’t always have me laughing, but the acting was yet again spot on, and I thoroughly enjoyed the amount of effort and work the performers put in to make it as funny and convincing as they could for the audience.
Billy
Billy is a lovely chap who again brought something different to the stage. Billy’s standup consisted of one-liner jokes, instead of short stories like those previous. Billy is truly a funny guy who is full of wit. His one-liners are witty, and the way he has put them together makes a fantastically funny standup routine full of one-liners about different topics. He truly brings a variety to the stage.
Margo
Margo was a wonderful lady who used short stories to make up her stand up, which I found to be a nice touch as it was unusual. Margo’s stories were all from her own personal life experience. She made me laugh in the best kind of way and I felt it was lovely for her to share these funny stories, including about kissing in her teenage years!
Are you ready for the coming of the Lord?
I felt this sketch wasn’t really for me – nothing against the performers but purely down to personal taste. The sketch was about two Mormons who turn up at a couple’s door and try to convince them to become Mormons themselves. Although there are some funny lines within the sketch, I thought it may have been too offensive given what is going on in the world today with religion. However, again, the acting was spot on and all the actors in the sketch were fantastic in all ways.
Graham
A wonderful neurodivergent comedian whose standup speaks honestly, openly and brutally, Graham uses his personal experience to tell about being neurodivergent and the issues this has caused within the working world due to lack of understanding and awareness. He is funny, straight talking and made me laugh. Being neurodivergent myself, it was really empowering to hear another neurodivergent individual speaking so openly about the issues we have to face in the working world and beyond.
Caroline
Caroline uses her real-life experience not only to make the audience laugh but to connect with them as well. Caroline’s standup was about her very first job when she was 16, working at British Home Stores. I felt that her willingness to speak openly about it made her click instantly with the audience, as it is an experience most people will share. Caroline made her story funny even at the more serious bits, and I found that ability to make the audience laugh at such moments enjoyable.
Are there too many nutters in politics?
As much as I liked this sketch and at points it did make me laugh, I didn’t overall enjoy the topic. The sketch is about a father and son who get a visit from a candidate of the Euthanasia Party regarding getting their vote in the upcoming election. The actors were once again wonderful; however, I felt the topic of euthanasia wasn’t something that should be joked about, given how personal this topic is and can be for a lot of people especially in society today.
Overall, The Fool On Comedy Crew are exceptional and the work and effort they have put into their show is clear. The show is well put together, it ran smoothly and everyone was made to feel welcome. The show is worth a visit, and I certainly hope they plan to return to the Edinburgh Fringe next year.
