Jimmy Rees: In Reel Life comedy review – Baseline observations
The Australian social media star brings impressions, crowd work and viral sketches to his uneven Fringe debut
Australian national treasure Jimmy Rees made his name in children’s TV, earning an OAM (the Aussie equivalent to an MBE), for the 11 years he spent playing a character named ‘Jimmy Giggle’ on the nation’s public television network. Following his departure from the role in 2020, Rees began to post irreverent skits on current affairs to his socials, and has since gained over 4.5m followers and developed an international platform sufficient enough to make his Edinburgh Fringe debut.
The set begins with a fairly impressive Trump impression. Dressed in the White House big baby’s full get-up (complete with fake tan, quaffed wig and overly long tie), the Aussie comic emerges from the back of the room, mercilessly calling out members of the audience as he struts on stage. It’s the first of many ‘bits’ Rees embarks on, as he spends the next hour alternating between a stand-up routine, character work and the live filming of a video for his socials. Quite an ambitious endeavour, and its results are mixed, at best.
While Rees possesses an impressive knowledge of the UK’s current affairs, his overreliance on crowd work creates an awkward viewing experience. He is a confident, engaging performer, but hearing every other sentence begin with ‘does anyone here…’ begins to grate, and suggests there is little to his stand-up material beyond baseline observational work.
Jimmy Rees: In Reel Life, Gilded Balloon Teviot, until 16 August, 7pm.