Review: Mitch Benn – The World’s Cleverest Idiot, Fringe 2024

Mitch Benn might be a former child prodigy, but as an adult, he still strikes me as incredibly intelligent, empathic, and talented. Grr. Aren’t people like that annoying?

Actually, it’s hard to begrudge Mitch’s talents when he puts them to such good use. This isn’t my first time with the singing comedian, and it won’t be the last. I don’t, however, follow the show outside Edinburgh. I’ve no idea if there have been any TV appearances, I’m not on his Patreon, and I rely on the YouTube algorithm to surface any new content. I suspect “The World’s Cleverest Idiot” is even better if you’re a better and more loyal fan than I.

Mitch Benn: The World’s Cleverest Idiot is also a good show for people without experience. You’ll get a funny guy who weaves some impressive singing and technical skills – such as recording a looping background for the song even as the music starts – with political and family insight.

Tone

I think Mitch Benn would be more angry at the world and the mess the country is in if it were not for his family and friends.

The performance is about Mitch, who casts himself in the role of the World’s Cleverest Idiot and then makes his case as to why that crown belongs to him.

Frustrations and mishaps become songs. It gets a song if something grinds Benn’s gears for long enough or hits home with enough force.

As a result, we get songs about vaccine deniers and AI, among other hot topics. Are vaccine deniers still a hot topic? I was a bit surprised that some of the show’s content reached back to the COVID era, but the decisions made then still affect Mitch’s life today and, therefore, still make the cut. I went to the show last year and don’t think this is a repeat.

We also get adult language, not South Park, just honest-to-goodness feelings.

What to expect

The World’s Cleverest Idiot follows the traditional Mitch Benn format. If you’ve been to a show before, you won’t be surprised or startled; you’ll get what you came for.

If this is your first time, I doubt you’ll be surprised. Mitch walks out to the microphone and takes it from there. There are comedy songs, songs and comedy; it’s left-leaning and broadly contemporary.

In keeping with the show’s title, you can also expect some little gems of academic insight. I always learn something when I go to see Mitch Benn and the same thing happens here. 

The venue is one of the Underbelly underground bunkers. I kinda like those although today seemed hotter than usual. It’s early days, perhaps the heating/cooling system will catch up with the impossible erratic weather. Perhaps it’s just erratic weather.

Oh, and for the record; only one phone made a noise – it was Benn’s.

Overall

Mitch Benn – The World’s Cleverest Idiot is intelligent reflections on life and morsels of book wisdom (perhaps Wikipedia) bundled into comedy and song.

The Fringe is important to Mitch Benn, as you can tell. I suspect it means we get his best.

I’m not sure this was my favourite of his shows, but it was still jolly good. He’s going straight onto my Fringe 2025 wishlist.