2011 Edinburgh Fringe

Mark Olver review

Mark Olver presents us with dark material that jars uncomfortably with a giggly, friendly on-stage persona in a set that is full of good ideas which never quite come together. Half the time he reads from journals that describe a series of horrible murders, and in the rest he delivers a more standard set themed around violence and death. Yet in a show so desperately concerned with horrors, Olver just can't keep his bubbly personality down.

There is real potential in the material, and a couple of one-liners are brilliant.Also, it is a delight to pass a mid-afternoon hour with Olver, who fills the room with energy and talks to every member of the tiny crowd. Unfortunately the contrast between content and delivery is just too great, and the bulk of the show simply does not contain that many jokes.

Whenever a long pause in the darker sections threatens to become truly awkward, Olver switches over to jovial, bouncy interactions with the crowd, which are almost universally hilarious. Whilst it works to save the moment, any chance of allowing the ideas or character to develop into something more interesting is lost, and the constant change of tone makes the show feel awkward, rushed and unfinished. It's a shame as Olver clearly has talent and charm.

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Olver: Portrait of a Serial Killer listing