Words: Berlyn Lee

5 Stars

The most hilarious and heartfelt show you will see at the Fringe! Simon David (Winner: Musical Comedy Awards) wants an Olivier Award nomination, so he’s decided to write a show about his dead dad. Thus the “Dead Dad Show” is born.

Cycling through nearly every storytelling trope, Simon struggles to be “real” with the audience about his father’s premature passing.

Instead he performs an Everybody’s Talking About Jamie parody called Everybody’s Talking About Simey, a play about “nose AIDS,” an “un-censored” Netflix stand-up special, a one-man show about a cheese sandwich, staged tik-toks, and an unhinged interpretive dance.

Occasionally, he’s interupted by his director, Chris, who urges Simon to just be honest with the audience. These moments between tropes, where Simon talks about who his dad was, learning his dad was dying, and watching clips of the one-man show his dad performed before passing bring a vulnerability to the performance that completely juxtaposes the comedy. It’s a masterful work.

Truthfully, I saw this show last year and, when I heard it was coming back, I couldn’t wait to see
it again! In the front row, a gentleman sitting next to me had done the same. He said, “It’s so
funny, but so poignant.” Though not much has changed, seeing this show a second time, it just
feels so polished.

As Netflix-special-Simon would say, “Edinboro y’all are crazy…” if you don’t see this show!

Simon David: Dead Dad Show
Underbelly, Bristo Square – The Dairy Room
21:20
Aug 21-25