A strong and steady stand-up can be tricky to deliver. Too many routines go for big moments throughout, with some sort of flashy and meaningful finish that gives the illusion of a deeper, more complicated piece. Will Robbins: With the Best Will in the World, eschews such tricks to deliver guaranteed chuckles throughout.
Will is a comedian, performer, and actor (former roles include Artemis Fowl). He evokes a strong stage presence and uses the Pleasance’s tiny Attic venue space to full effect, an impressive feat given that it’s one of the Fringe’s trickier venues.
Will has a rare form of Dwarfism and grew up in Somerset and was known as Little Will. Obviously, everyone else in his town had an unusual nickname as well, and this was something of a running gag. Will talks frankly about how his height has altered his life, and these anecdotes are blended in with a sharp wit and a sense of foolishness, which is consistently funny. He discusses terms such as disability from his own perspective, mining it all for humour in an intelligent and informative way.
Will’s style is very much audience-based. He employs a fair bit of call and response to keep the tempo of his routine going, and he’s clearly tailoring the act on the fly to suit the audience. He does this skillfully and cleanly. There’s a little bit of crowd work, but the bulk of it is reading the vibe of the audience to get the timing just so. It’s a rare skill and makes up for a lack of material in places.
Will Robbins is no small talent and one to watch out for in the future.
Tickets for Will’s Edinburgh Fringe show can be found here.
