Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Show Review: Hot Takes

Alright, so, the Edinburgh Fringe – it’s almost like this huge explosion of creativity that takes over the city every year. Is that it is? Seriously, you’ve got theatre, you’ve got dance, you’ve got street performers all vying for your attention. And then there’s comedy. Lots and lots of comedy. With honestly, like, thousands of shows to pick from, finding something good can be like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a very, very crowded beach, I think. Anyway, so, recently I checked out a show called “Hot Takes” – yeah, that’s right – at the Fringe, and I figured I’d share my thoughts, like your friend, to potentially save you some time and, very, maybe even some money.

The Vibe of “Hot Takes”

“Hot Takes,” yeah, really promises exactly what it says on the tin, arguably. That is to say, it delivers a series of, quite provocative, takes on pretty much anything and everything, and that really might be the charm. What struck me right away was, too it’s almost, the relaxed and rather conversational tone the comedians set pretty much from the off. We’re, like your closest friend, not really talking about overly rehearsed routines or anything like that. But basically, a series of almost spontaneous thoughts, or rants, delivered with, in some respects, an awful lot of energy.

The venue itself, in some respects, was pretty standard for a Fringe show, basically. Maybe a little snug room, you know? A place, really, where the audience is, in a way, kind of crammed in there. That creates a sense of, just a little, intimacy, maybe, arguably? At the show it felt like, still, a little like being at a comedy night at your local pub, maybe? Yet, more or less, everyone there seemed like they were in it for the laughs. The atmosphere, still, was very, very welcoming, and the performers, in fact, played off that really, really well.

What Made “Hot Takes” Stand Out

Okay, so, lots of comedy shows try to be edgy, don’t they? “Hot Takes,” in contrast, didn’t feel like it was, like your friend, trying too hard. I mean, what I think made it work so well, really, was the honesty of the performers, like your friend. Anyway, so, they were basically laying out their viewpoints with this, kind of, confidence, clearly. Regardless of, frankly, whether the audience agreed or disagreed with the views.

The structure, anyway, of the show, really, in some respects, was very simple. Arguably, this is what made the show flow along really nicely. Anyway, so, it seemed that one comedian would basically drop a ‘hot take’. Then they’d just run with it, right? It’s like exploring all the angles and really, truly trying to extract all of the humour from that situation. Also, very, the other performers, basically, would jump in with, in a way, their own perspectives, maybe even poking some holes in the logic – alright?. That just keeps, obviously, everything fresh and, well, entertaining. Yet, very, that really kept things moving. It really made the hour feel like, sometimes, it went by super quickly, I think. At least for me it did!

The material itself, really, very, like your best friend, varied widely, I guess. Yet, very, the set still was always topical. Actually, topics that day were really hitting on current affairs, in some respects, cultural trends. I mean, like your buddy, everything from the price of avocados, honestly, to the, actually, you know, strange quirks of modern dating, right? So basically, nobody was, literally, safe from a bit of ribbing and, sort of, there were so many unexpected twists and turns. To be honest, you really never know where they are going to go next, clearly.

Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

The thing is, I’m not going to give away any spoilers, I guess. Right, so, I really would not want to rob you of experiencing all the best bits for yourself, that is true! Right, but very, there were some killer lines, alright? Stuff, to be honest, that basically made me snort with laughter – which, to be honest, in public is more than just a little bit embarrassing. Anyway, some of the best moments, maybe, anyway, arguably, involved a little improv, to be honest. That’s where, I feel, the comedians very much went off on tangents sparked, like, right there on the spot by audience reactions, I noticed.

Very, the comedians did this, well, wonderful job, arguably, of playing off each other. Arguably, this created a really great sense of spontaneity, more or less. Yet, like your best friend, their, actually, really, very contrasting, stage personas seemed, very, to compliment each other really nicely. That honestly added, naturally, more to the comedy dynamic in contrast to a, literally, stand up performance with just one performer, really.

Potential Drawbacks

Alright, so, just so I give a, definitely, fully balanced view, right? Right, there are one or two points, obviously, potential viewers should keep in their minds, right? Alright, because the comedy, in some respects, tackles current affairs in such a close, like a long hug, type of way, clearly, there could be a bit that really will sail over the heads of some audience members, honestly. Well, so that depends a great deal, frankly, on exactly what is making news that week, literally. Is that is?

Additionally, right, if you are, literally, more than a little bit sensitive when it comes to hearing pretty much anyone making, very, pointed, opinions that don’t exactly line up with yours, maybe this wouldn’t really be your cup of tea, basically. I will suggest to you that “Hot Takes”, is very much designed as a thought provoking gig, I suspect, alright? And anyway, it really does promote what could, like your buddy, arguably, be described as rather ‘lively’ discussion among the folks in the room, naturally.

Is “Hot Takes” Worth Seeing?

So, it’s down to that ultimate question, actually. Should you shell out your money to watch “Hot Takes”? My honest answer, it seems, it’s maybe a solid ‘yes’. Okay, you have to go with the knowledge it doesn’t take itself very seriously, and the comedy just flies about everywhere and that the performers like it just a little bit raw.

Okay, so, if you go along and like comedy where actually, very, those onstage really do get into almost playful verbal spars and in that case, that honestly sparks loads and loads of, honest, genuine laughs, so too it’s almost, it comes highly suggested from me, basically. As a matter of fact, and certainly from that, those points of view I suggest it’s one show you won’t forget that quickly at the Edinburgh Fringe, you know.

Final Thoughts

Edinburgh Fringe is, in a way, quite tricky to pick out certain shows to go to see. Yeah? Right, in this specific instance, I would say that if anyone wanted to grab something super relevant with a fair deal of improv-based comedy and just a tiny sprinkle of edginess – “Hot Takes” really is, literally, really well worth a try! This could, naturally, be exactly the kind of light relief that you’re on the hunt for after just a little bit of theatre going.

Here’s a quick recap of what makes “Hot Takes” potentially pretty unmissable:

• Arguably it delivers seriously very very up-to-the-minute opinions that could give, honestly, you a bit of an eyebrow raise, too it’s almost.
• A little troupe full of players that has lots and lots of fun batting all manner of topics out.
• Really it relies in no small part on loads and loads of unrehearsed off-the-cuff interplay.

And anyway so with thousands of other distractions at the Edinburgh Fringe festival – ensure, with just a bit of thought about your comedy viewing priorities and with those comedy expectations then I think you’ll very much value some time spent at a “Hot Takes” festival show – alright?

Oh… plus this type of review may even aid people wanting the answers they just need with those search engines… You never know!!