Jon Gracey is perhaps best known for his work on cult podcast The Magnus Archives, through his show Blood On The Clocktower Live (which we quite liked) or via No Rolls Barred. We were lucky enough to see an early version of his stand-up comedy show, Big Willy Energy, which as the name implies, is all about masculinity. Or at least one thing that is closely associated with male expression.
The show starts with the story of Jon as a small child, getting a big laugh for running about naked, as small children sometimes do. The show continues at this sort of pace, personal stories mixed in with an examination of growing up male. The titular Big Willy Energy is a counterpoint of sorts to the quiet self-assurance that has been described as Big Dick Energy. The idea is that Big Willy is sillier, more organic, but still a certain sort of cool that comes from being oneself.
Jon is very funny; the humour here is delivered throughout. It’s less about the single killer gag and more about the slow build, your grin getting bigger as the show continues. This is a show about growing up and having the self-awareness to continue to grow as one gets older. This autobiographical story is full of key moments in a person’s life, a sort of introduction to the comedian, as well as a summary of Jon’s story so far.
It is a very personal and an unusually intimate sort of stand-up, the pace steadily jumping from foolishness to fable throughout. Jon’s persona is that of someone who is very silly but also in control. The intellectual fool, holding court and making people both laugh and think at the same time.
We saw an early version of the show, and it did lack some slickness; this is a fringe show after all, and some technical difficulties and a little bit of wobble are to be expected. The venue itself is one of the many adapted shipping containers that forms a lot of Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues. This small space added strongly to a close and familiar vibe.
Big Willy Energy is one of those shows that gives you food for thought in many different ways. Big Willy delivers big laughs. Fabulous and Funny.
You can book for Jon’s show here and find out more about Jon’s future shows here.
