Believe

• Peggy Hughes
• 5 August 2012

This article is from 2012.

Patchy solo show from Umbilical Brother Shane Dundas

It’s easy to believe why Shane Dundas from the Umbilical Brothers is nervous. We join him on his leap into the unknown of solo stand-up, and the vehicle to ‘nirvana or train wreck’ is a raked lecture theatre with a raised stage: a combo with all the atmosphere of a urinal.

He talks to individual audience members and the teddy bear joining him on stage for comfort and company with toilet humour and politics mulled upon. Chickens, too. A meandering set piece about religious stereotyping has the misfortune of being unfunny, but an accidental round of sound effects is impressive.

But is the anxiety he frequently expresses real or a posture? Managing to alienate some of the audience results with a confusing, sour ending, Believe doesn’t seem to cater for those seeking a belly laugh a minute, and this was light on laughs. It could come good for Dundas if the stars align, his confidence grows and he has a little more faith in his crowd.

Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 27 Aug (not 13), 10.10pm, £12--£14 (£11--£13).