Milton Jones was one of my favourite acts last year and I had high hopes for this year.
Trouble began when we got to the queue – a full 30 minutes before the doors were supposed to open – and found it stretched around the corner and two blocks back. Milton’s popular for a reason.
In the queue we encountered the crones with the cackling laughs, who wanted to wave light cigarettes around and who seemed strangely unwilling to move when the doors finally opened. To my horror, this gaggle of weather beaten, bleached blondes and their plump minders/husbands ended up in the row in front of me once we made it inside the Assembly Hall.
Imagine my mood; my foul, foul mood and then add on the fact that it had been raining. Then the crones decided to carry on their cackling while playing musical chairs, or something, with themselves.
Milton Jones had me laughing even before he came on stage. Comic genius.
Jones likes the crowd to behave too. He’s certainly no fan of latecomers. I approve. Besides, if you miss five minutes of “On The High Road” and you’ve missed ten great jokes.
Jones isn’t just the master of the set up – he’s just as skilful in the punch line. It’s just that the punch line isn’t always needed. He works best with a smart crowd (cackling crones, take note). He’s also expert, and incredibly funny, at delivering a punch line that you weren’t expecting. Given the number of jokes he rattles through in the hour long show it’s amazing that pretty much all of them hit home.
Amazingly, Milton Jones isn’t just about one line jokes. There are pictures and an overhead protector in the show. This isn’t new for him but this proves that he has a style of his own.
The fact that he uses the crowd – predicting reactions, expectations and even heckles – is all the remaining evidence we need to confirm his status as an incredible comedy talent.
Milton Jones is one of the very best comedians in the UK and On the High Road proves it.
Looking for travel tips from locals? We've a things to do in Leith guide.
Leave a Reply