Thankfully, no-one had painted a large sign saying ‘Glasgow’ on the flight path into Edinburgh, meaning Max Fosh arrived safely at the Fringe to perform his debut show Max Fosh: Zocial Butterfly.
Max Fosh is known to millions as a YouTuber, amassing a legion of fans with his Street Smart series. For those unfamiliar with the internet sensation, a handy recap is provided as part of the show, including one of his most famous stunts – painting ‘Luton’ on a field outside Gatwick airport.
It’s a brave thing for someone who has found fame on the internet to transition to an hour long solo show; there’s no option to edit out mistakes, and feedback is instantaneous rather than hidden in the comments section. Yet, Fosh sails through his hour like a Fringe veteran.
It most closely resembles an hour of stand up, but instead of a stream of jokes we get a cleverly constructed sixty minutes of intelligent comedy, underpinned by a snazzy PowerPoint that adds genuinely interesting context to the humour.
Fosh readily admits he’s posh, and finds it easier to communicate with others of the same ilk, indeed, he’s built his following on his ability to make the rest of us laugh at absurd conversations that seem perfectly normal to the more sophisticated members of society.
This brand transfers effortlessly to the stage, and while the majority of the audience probably didn’t go to Harrow or Eton, Fosh easily connected with all of us, engaging us in this uniquely modern humour.
Max Fosh: Zocial Butterfly gives us a revealing behind the scenes look at his YouTube channel, but more surprising is the revelation that this YouTube celebrity has all the star quality required to not only carry a stage show, but thrive on it.
