Review: Sam Simmons, XS Malarkey

The brilliantly bizarre Sam Simmons headlined at XS Malarkey this week, their last show of the year.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Lee Mack, Susan Calman and Sam Simmons.

Sam Simmons: 'Stand-up is a pretty amazing artform' (Link expired)

The mid-life crisis of an objectionable former muesli bar manufacturer drifting to his death at sea is the starting point for Sam Simmons' playful new show. Interview by Claire Smith.

Wizards of Oz

"Traditionally, we're not looked at as innovators at all," says Australian Sam Simmons. But with a rich history of Antipodeans migrating to the Fringe, it seems an increasingly difficult viewpoint to sustain.

The Alternative Comedy Experience is a show 'curated' by Stewart Lee to showcase what he considers to be some of the most exciting stand-ups around today. As with most undertakings by Lee, this is in no way meant to pander to the general population. The show features a line-up of stand up comedians, cutting between sections of their material and backstage clips with Lee himself interviewing the acts. The line-up is predictably eclectic, this week featuring Andy Zaltzmann, Glenn Wool, Stephen Carlin, Sam Simmons and Maeve Higgins.

It's unlikely that you'll enjoy every stand up on each show, but the mix of styles and material mean that you are almost certain to find something that you will like, and maybe even discover someone you would not have previously considered. In earlier episodes I've greatly enjoyed Tony Law's routines, having previously discounted him based on certain panel show appearances.

Maeve Higgins was my highlight from this week's show, though, with a fantastically understated routine of ideas for films in which she could play the starring role. It was a real disappointment that her segment was so short, and I hope that we see more of her in next week's final episode. Andy Zaltzman and Glenn Wool were funny as usual, although in entirely different ways. Stephen Carlin seemed to rely too heavily on material derived from Scottish stereotypes, and didn't bring anything new to the table that we have not seen in some form or another before.

Unfortunately I just didn't 'get' Sam Simmons. Certain members of the audience seemed to really enjoy his incoherent rambling and energetic delivery, so I can't fault his appearance; this show is meant to push the boundaries of TV stand up, acting as almost an antithesis to shows like Live at The Apollo (which it directly follows on Comedy Central).

The thing I like most about this show, though, is not the acts, nor is it the short interview sections. It's the realism. Although the show is heavily edited, you really get a feel that it is being thoroughly honest; it's in a proper comedy club (it stresses this at the beginning), the audience are up for it but not overly forgiving, and when jokes don't land they don't leave them on the editing room floor.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of Austentatious, Chris Ramsey and Sam Simmons.

Sam Simmons: Champion of the Weird

Treading the fine line between genius and idiocy, Sam Simmons has found his audiences are finally getting the joke. Lyle Brennan journeys into the absurd with the off-the-wall Australian.

A minute of your time: Sam Simmons, comedian (Link expired)

"Touring does tend to become quite lonely, I miss the camaraderie of my old job in the zoo".

Sam Simmons - Fail

Simmons is the most modest of men, and he has absolutely nothing to be even slightly modest about. Since starting out in comedy 2003 he has won more comedy awards than many shows here have sold tickets.

Edinburgh Fringe grilling: Sam Simmons

Next to take a running jump into Sport.co.uk's tumble dryer of titters is Australian stand-up Sam Simmons, who this month brings his FAIL show to the Gilded Balloon as well as appearing in The Incident at the Assembly Rooms...