HOWL is 26-year-old comic Jacob Hawley’s debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe.
But from the confident, funny, and insightful stage presence on display, you’d never be able to tell.
In Just the Tonic’s cosy Attic room, Hawley introduces himself to the audience through a series of stories from his life and upbringing, touching on nationalism (his dad celebrated St George’s Day but forgot his birthday), experiences of class difference, and the collective responsibility we all have to make the world a better place.
And, of course, sponsoring elephants.
From pretending to be a camel to a sincere moment on period poverty, Hawley displays a full range and it’s clear he believes in what he’s saying.
There are plenty of moments to stop and ponder on some serious points he has to make – always followed by a killer quip.
Packed with personality and punchlines, the show flies by and makes it clear that Hawley is headed for even bigger things.
Even if he admits he’s never read the Allen Ginsberg poem from which the show takes its name!
Verdict: ★★★★
An exciting young talent that we’re going to see plenty more from in the future, Hawley is going to be a top star. Intelligent and important, his self-aware set sees him explore themes of class and identity in the modern world expertly.
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