2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Neil Hamburger review
I would be interested to see if any comedian could create a more depressing environment before they have come on stage than Gregg Turkington's monstrous creation, Neil Hamburger - deflated balloons and mournful music against a stark black stage and backdrop. After Hamburger's delayed entrance and the phlegm filled coughing fit which opens his show, it is more than clear that this setting is wholly appropriate for his hour of comedy. The only thing that is slick about this performance is Neil Hamburger's comb-over.
Finally on stage and with a drink in his hand and two held under his arm, Hamburger begins his set, mainly consisting of a series of seething pop shots at celebrities. Britney Spears is an early target who bears the weight of a barrage of bubbling bitterness but the personalities who are the objects of Hamburgers' jokes are not always as well known and he frequently resorts to insulting obscure or almost unknown celebrities. This only enhances the jaded and pathetic nature of Hamburger as his insults seem to be some sort of cathartic release for him. It certainly comes across that just under the surface of the character of Hamburger is a great deal of self-loathing that is only kept in by insulting other people.
Some of his material is not directed at celebrities and his series of jokes about ice-cream are particularly strong but just as obscene. The audience is also treated at the end to a song which makes for an interesting change of pace but definitely not of tone. The ditty about recycling at first seems to have a fairly straight forward and obvious message but descends into a further display of Hamburger's hostility when he starts abusing the whole crowd who revel in his repugnance.
Hamburger's delivery style is certainly unique and definitely divides an audience not accustomed to his act. His harsh barks of 'WHAT...' and 'WHY...' at the beginning of every joke are delivered with such a lack of professionalism or craft that they are by measures truly horrible and hilarious. Each joke is followed by exasperated mutters from Hamburger and guilty screams of laughter from the audience, which seemed mostly to consist of fans of this challenging anti-comedy.
His expletive laden rants at latecomers sporadically interrupt his set and make you almost want more people to come late just to hear the contempt fired at them from the stage. Even more astounding than this is his treatment of anyone with the temerity to leave early as Hamburger hurls a fistful of coins at them shouting with a seething rage 'there's your refund'. Truly an awesome sight to behold but I'm guessing not particularly pleasant to be at the receiving end of.
The only real criticism of Hamburger's act is that you wouldn't want to spend much more than hour in his company, but I guess this is also his success - the character is so clearly contemptible that you are both repulsed and enchanted by his litany of lampoons.
Neil Hamburger: Discounted Enterainer listing