Review: Mitch Benn – The Lehrer Effect, Fringe 2025

Mitch Benn is a prolific musical comedian, a familiar voice from multiple radio shows, and the talent behind several YouTube hits. He’s one of those multi-talented people you can’t help but be envious of; he can sing, he can write, and he delivers superb comedy.

In Mitch Benn: The Lehrer Effect, we discover he’s a dab hand at impersonations, too. This show is either perfectly or tragically timed, depending on your perspective. It’s named for Tom Lehrer, the American comedic songwriter who pioneered the genre, and whose decision to place his entire back catalogue into the public domain shortly before his death a few weeks ago has brought his genius to a new generation.

Discovering Your Heroes

The Lehrer Effect begins with Benn asserting that the musicians you feel most loyal to are the ones you discover for yourself, rather than those thrust upon you. That’s precisely how I found Mitch Benn, thanks to his viral YouTube song about moving to Scotland. For Benn, that formative artist was Tom Lehrer.

The show is a loving musical commentary and a heartfelt tribute. Lehrer is clearly a massive influence on Benn. While Lehrer produced a handful of albums before retiring from public performance, Benn has hundreds of songs to his name and remains incredibly active across YouTube, Patreon, and Bandcamp. For those like me who knew little of Tom Lehrer before rocking up to Benn’s gig, the show is the perfect introduction to a legend. I left, desperate to learn more.

One of the central questions the show explores is why the master, Tom Lehrer, stopped, while the disciple, Mitch Benn, continues to fight the good fight with his own brand of musical satire.

Cathartic Satire

Benn is unapologetically political. And in these times, aren’t we all? He makes no bones about his political leanings, and it’s doubtful that many committed Tory voters will be rushing to buy a ticket. For the rest of us, an hour with Mitch Benn is a cathartic release; a genuine treat.

He questions whether his satire makes a positive difference, a moment of introspection that many in the room will relate to. But even if a song doesn’t change the world, there’s immense value in feeling validated and sharing a space with like-minded people. I lean into that 100%. I may not know if parody makes a difference, but I certainly enjoyed hearing views similar to my own, set to a brilliant musical score for a solid hour. “A cathartic release for the politically weary.”

Overall

I’m making a deliberate effort to see new artists this year, but Mitch Benn is my one exception. Having seen his Fringe shows in previous years, I can confidently compare and contrast. The Lehrer Effect is one of his best performances to date. It is an intelligent, funny, and surprisingly poignant show that pays perfect tribute to a master of the art form. Benn has set a very high bar for himself for next year. If you get the chance, go see The Lehrer Effect.