Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Mean, moody, a man with more chips on his shoulder than N.W.A. had hits in the U.K. and one man you wouldn’t want to cross or exchange a dirty look with…of course that’s the interpretation of the comedic genius that resides deep in the heart of one of the most cheerful and amiable men arguably in the world today.
Hal Cruttenden is a man on a mission to spread joy and the biggest smile possible, the bad-ass persona as he walks out on stage to great applause is one that last roughly the same time a stop watch marking the time it takes for one Government minister to find a way to blame the poor for the ills in society. Whilst he may have wanted to be that person as a teenager the British comedy circuit and his legion of fans that made him very welcome as part of the Edinburgh Fringe are more than glad the smile, the cutting wit and bag full of charm never allowed him to be corrupted completely; for Hal is straight out of Cruttenden and into the hearts of all who see him perform.
It is a near impossibility to say with absolute certainty who is the funniest comedian taking part in the Edinburgh Fringe, there are just too many for the ordinary person to see in such a short time but along with Stuart Francis, Patrick Monahan and the ever likeable Tiff Stevenson, surely Hal Cruttenden is there without any sense of impropriety or false honour.
It’s easy to fall for the smile of anyone, even a shark can look like it’s found the formula for the best joke going and yet the endearing nature of Hal Cruttenden, especially when he gets onto the point of social media, is one that captivates his audience and the tears of laughter flowing so hard that it’s possible to see the grooves being etched down the cheeks as the snuffles of overwhelming joy run down them as if trying to keep up with a tiny Usain Bolt.
Hal Cruttenden is the main man to catch at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, of that there can be no doubt at all, a master and genuine lover of his craft; a man who can smile and deliver a punch line at the same time is never to be messed with.
Ian D. Hall