Bruce Dessau
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 225
Rarely asked questions - Adam Hess
I laughed like a loon at Adam Hess' Fringe show last summer. The gags flew around the room at such a fast and furious pace that I was still chuckling at one punchline when the next one hit me. He more than deserved his Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nomination. As well as the wordplay and one-liners there is a playful, childlike streak to Hess. He felt a bit like a boy trapped in a man's body. His new show is called Feathers. I'm hoping to be tickled again.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 5th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Liz Miele
Liz Miele's stand-up show Mind Over Melee is about her experiences as an anxiety-ridden American. She jokes about her struggles with her physical health, mental illness in her family, dating, travelling through Europe alone and coming to grips with getting older and being an adult, all with a skewed logic of an angry New Yorker trying to make sense of everything. Sounds great, although I think the title should have been Making A Miele Of It.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 4th August 2016Rarely asked questions - Doug Segal
Doug Segal is a comedy mind reader and his latest show is designed to make you feel good with a mix of tricks that will make your brain boggle and jokes that will tickle your funny bone. Apparently the Evening Standard said of him: "Imagine if Derren Brown was funny'". I don't think it was me that said it, but maybe Segal got me to say it after casting a spell on me.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Review: Fleabag, BBC Three, episode 3
There is a hint of some character development towards the end of the third episode of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's excellent series. Jogging through a graveyard Fleabag suddenly seems to see the world in a different way. Could she be heading for a happy ending?
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice recommissioned
Deborah Frances-White's hit award-winning radio comedy Deborah Frances-White Rolls The Dice is to return to Radio 4 this autumn for a second series. Series one was the winner of Best Radio Comedy at the 2016 Writers Guild Awards.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 3rd August 2016Interview: rarely asked questions - Tommy Tiernan
Tommy Tiernan really does need no introduction. He is a Perrier Award winner, he appeared in one of the greatest-ever episodes of Father Ted and, well, you should just go and see him, simple as that. He is bringing his latest show, Out of The Whirlwind, to the Fringe this year. When I saw a version at the Soho Theatre it had everything - stories, gags, loud bits, quiet bits, angry bits, insightful bits, controversial bits. Tiernan is what you might call the real deal, he has every type of comedy screwdriver in his toolbox. Go see a master at work.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 2nd August 2016TV review: Borderline, 5
There is very little that is original about Borderline, written by Chris Gau and Mike Orton-Toliver and partly improvised by the cast, but the good news is that there are some nice performances and decent slow-burn gags.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 2nd August 2016Interview: rarely asked questions - Grainne Maguire
Grainne Maguire has had a good year.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st August 2016Rarely asked questions: Adam Kay
Adam Kay is no slouch. The former doctor will be performing two shows a day at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st July 2016Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year results
Comedian Simon Lomas has won the Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year 2016 tonight.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st July 2016