Stupidly Funny: Max Fulham: Memory Foam Review | Ellen Leslie
Image credit: Karla Gowlett
★★★★
I am always reluctant to see comedy shows at the Fringe. I rarely laugh out loud at their routines, and the fear that the performer might talk to me just ruins the whole experience for me. Yet Max Fulham: Memory Foam had me giggling away in my seat.
Returning to the Fringe after last year’s successful run, Max Fulham’s latest show is a delightful blend of ventriloquism, sketch and jokes. Fulham is clearing out his attic, and rediscovering lost objects and forgotten memories in the process which includes his grandfather’s art collection, a set of chimes and lots of old puppets.
A host of eccentric and hilarious puppets are featured in the performance. Fulham’s puppetry skills are solid, and he brings each character alive with ease. The puppets have highly distinct personalities, from the Millennial Mona Lisa to the grateful Charity Shop Puppet. But it is the puppet of his grandfather that is the best. Wise, dryly funny and painfully self-aware, his jokes all land, and these scenes are some of the strongest parts of the show.
A few gags went on for too long, and it felt like Fulham was repeating jokes that the crowd had already laughed at. His Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert sketch borders on painful as it doesn’t have anywhere to go, and quickly becomes repetitive. Asking one audience member who their energy provider is to then tell them they should switch is barely funny once. By the third time, it was extremely tedious.
Fulham stays away from offensive comedy, explaining to his great great grandfather that his jokes are considered “ist” or “phobic” today. Instead, most of his humour hinges on puns and silly jokes that are highly entertaining. His character comedy is brilliant, and having the puppet of his grandad be very aware that he is a puppet is a unique touch that works very well.
The best part by far – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – was the crowd work. The man that was selected as his volunteer was side-splittingly funny. He fully embraced the role and his enthusiasm worked perfectly with Fulham’s quick wit. Fulham did of course tease him gently, but it was light-hearted, and didn’t make me feel uncomfortable like some comedians do.
Max Fulham: Memory Foam is a highly entertaining hour of good old-fashioned comedy. In a world where technological advances are booming, traditional forms of entertainment can be lost, so it is refreshing to see Fulham embrace ventriloquism while still making it fresh for modern audiences. I would definitely go to see him again!
Max Fulham: Memory Foam will be performed at Jack Dome – Pleasance Dome until 31 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.
By Ellen Leslie
