★★★★
In ‘Reasonably Adjusted’, Jamie MacDonald uses his platform to try and dispel stigma and myths around being blind, whilst also being damn funny.
MacDonald has managed to get the right balance of serious and funny. The framing device for the show was a poll conducted in the The New York Times which found that the majority of people thought that becoming blind was the worst thing that could happen to them!
MacDonald clearly knows how to structure a show. At the macro level, the pacing is perfect, and the hour flies by. This is particularly impressive given that I wouldn’t say there was necessarily an underlying narrative to the show to drive it forward. The structure was just as good at the micro level. So many jokes were used as call backs throughout, which helped to make the different stories feel more connected than they would otherwise.
MacDonald’s delivery makes it feel like you’re having a very funny, one-sided conversation with a friend at the pub, which is a really nice vibe for a show to have. He made it look easy to get an audience on-side immediately, and to keep them there.
A thoroughly enjoyable hour of comedy. It doesn’t necessarily deviate particularly far in terms of style from typical stand-up fare, but this is a bloody good example of stand-up done right – well structured, very funny but also has a really important take-home message.
Jamie MacDonald: Reasonably Adjusted Gilded Balloon Teviot – Sportsmans 19:45 (1hr) Aug 3-29 £11.50/10.50 16+
Review by Ella Catherall
