Gerry Carroll: YOUNG ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There is something wonderfully charismatic about Gerry Carroll: YOUNG. A solo show combining comedy, storytelling, clowning, music, movement and even a few shot glasses, it is a warm and thoroughly entertaining hour that comes across less like watching a comedian perform at you and more like spending time with someone who has a very good story to tell and is absolutely determined to make you laugh along the way.

The sound is nicely balanced. In a space as small as the Attic, it would be very easy for the sound to become overwhelming, but thankfully it strikes exactly the right balance. Everything can be heard distinctly without ever feeling like it is taking over the performance.

The book by Gerry Carroll is good, with some genuinely lovely stories and plenty of wonderful jokes scattered throughout. There is a real warmth to the storytelling, and the personal nature of the material gives the comedy something more substantial underneath it. The shot glasses section was a particular highlight and had the audience firmly on board.

My biggest criticism is simply that I wanted more. The show feels as though it has only just got going when suddenly we're heading towards the end. I found myself internally screaming for Gerry to carry on, which is one of the better problems a Fringe show can have. When an audience is sitting there thinking, "Surely there must be another story?", you know you've created something people are enjoying.

Gerry Carroll himself has fantastic stage presence. He can command the room without ever feeling like he is trying too hard, and his comedic timing is excellent. He knows when to hold a pause, when to let a reaction breathe and when to go straight for the punchline. There is also a lovely sense of playfulness to his performance, particularly in the clowning and physical comedy.

What really makes the performance work, though, is the warmth behind it. Gerry isn't simply trying to get laughs. There is a genuine sense that he is inviting us into his world and allowing us to share in the ridiculousness of getting older, remembering the past and trying to make sense of where you are now.

The combination of storytelling along with clowning is especially effective because it gives the show a nice rhythm. One moment you are listening to a personal story, and the next you are watching Gerry completely commit to a physical gag. It keeps the performance unpredictable without ever feeling chaotic.

There is also something rather lovely about watching someone clearly enjoying performing. That enthusiasm is infectious, and it makes the audience want to go along for the ride.

Gerry Carroll: YOUNG is a charming, funny and wonderfully personable Fringe show that combines storytelling, clowning and comedy into a thoroughly enjoyable hour.

Gerry Carroll: YOUNG is playing at Just The Attic at Just the Tonic at The Mash House, Edinburgh, at 2:40 pm, with performances running throughout the Fringe.