Hal Cruttenden
Edinburgh Fringe 2015. Straight Outta Cruttenden
I wasn't going to review this show - not because I don't like it but because I paid for the tickets instead of getting Press comps. However, it turned out to be the only comedy stand-up I went to so in the end I thought I ought.
Hal has a soft-spoken, hard-centered delivery with hints of early Izzard wrapped up in a tendancy to over-share about his life. And it is very funny. He rips on any member of the audience he can see a chance to and gives them a hard time, but never any harder than he gives himself. To fall into one of his comedy observations (caused in part by the death of Cilla) I last saw him in a George Orwell evening (Coming up for Air) at the Trafalgar Studios (and afterwards in the pub opposite) - so don't let his self-effacing references to panto in Woking with Justin Fletcher (yes, they do look alike!) fool you; this is a talented man.
Great fun ...