August 14, 2025 
The QR
Reviewing ‘John Robertson Plays With The Audience’ is a little like reviewing the weather. If someone asked you what the weather will be like on Friday, you’d be a lunatic to say, ‘Well, it was great on Monday!’And yet, here we are, with a need to write a review of this 21st-century court jester, out to skewer the world and everyone in, in the most delightfully uplifting way possible.I really don’t know how many songs the master of The Dark Room has planned for the show. I think he managed 3, including ‘Perverse and the Neurodiverse’, and ‘I Got My Divorce Papers At the Orgy’, both predictably OTT ditties with plenty of imagery involved. He has a unique ability to bawl out the most bawdy, sordid songs, without it seeming remotely seedy. Bodily fluids and bizarre situations just give him more to be absurd with. It’s hard to be offended, I’d also argue, by any song set to ukulele, even if it is electrified and features more than 2 chords.However, John Roberston is far funnier when he’s just working with an audience, and riding the waves of chaos he foments in a room. How many times will John restart the show? How will he gamify parts of the hour for specially selected audience members?Why do strangers deliver juice in a paper bag and then leave? Is it part of the show, or is John’s life simply prone to the unexpected, the way Snowshoe Hares have to deal with Lynxes?Why have I mentioned Snowshoe hares in a comedy review?I don’t know, but I do know it’s both hilarious and joyful to watch John conduct all of this and more, like some fairy imposter on a day out amongst humanity. Who else but some fae-interloper would end their show with poetry after an hour of raucous, irreverent mischief?(Yes, I do read a lot of fantasy, and no, I’m not apologising for it.)It’s fair to say that John Robertson is a comedic force of nature. Does he swear a lot? Sure, but this is the Fringe, not This Morning. Lighting quick-witted, he spins a show from whatever he finds in the room. Where other comedians studiously record their observations over time, he makes, and deploys them live: it’s impressive to behold.The stage is pretty much a launch pad for him; he spends little time there. Instead, he’s out amongst his people, assessing their outfits, and identifying the main characters for the show ahead. Methinks ‘John Robertson Plays With The Audience’ has more in common with some of the legendary anarchy the Fringe knew pre-social media. This isn’t a show you could snip up to post to your Instagram, or a routine aimed at garnering awards.It’s just a very funny man making the most of his time here on Earth, and hoping to enjoy an hour of it as madly as possible with a ballroom full of kindred spirits. Will ever show be an unfettered success? Probably not, but when it’s great, expect the sublime. The rest of the time, you’ll just have to settle for very, very good. Click Here For Review