Liam Withnail: Big Strong Boy review – look back in laughter at misfit youth

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghThe standup’s tale of teenage travails, guilt and redemption borders on the sentimental but gets the balance rightThere’s trauma comedy, finding laughter in the very worst moments of our lives. But there’s space too for quite-a-sticky-period comedy, a notch down on the scale of bad stuff that happens, but no less significant in the lives of those lucky enough to keep actual trauma at bay.That’s Liam Withnail’s mode in Big Strong Boy, which, from a vantage point of modest career success in his mid-30s, revisits a mild crisis weathered half a lifetime ago. In his unassuming hands, it takes the shape of a lovely story about misfit adolescence, family love, the guilt we carry – and redemption.At Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh, until 24 August. Then touring from 4 October.All our Edinburgh festival reviews Continue reading...

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