James Meehan: Class Act

Fringe comics will often readily admit that they resolved to do Edinburgh ages ago, then eventually came up with a show. But you get the impression that James Meehan’s solo debut is a genuine passion project, albeit from unpromising beginnings.

Meehan has enjoyed Fringe acclaim before with the quirky sketch troupe Gein’s Family Giftshop, but takes a more serious approach here. Something has stirred within, a spark ignited by, er, a posher comedian beating him to a coveted acting job.

Class Act gets off to a stuttering start all round, in truth. Meehan is slightly stiff in this format, and occasionally schmaltzy, although the reason for that soon becomes clear. The Lancashire-born comic is from an underprivileged family background, a fend-for-yourself environment where emotions were frowned upon. Therapy helped, although he’s now bloody angry, about the way class affects both him and society generally.

So, yes, missing that role may have inspired this show, but it really begins to fly when he gets properly enraged about the wider issues of race and class, plus some more serious family problems. There are a few left-field ideas too, including a promising film-related running gag that doesn’t quite build as hoped, and some abstract conversations that feel a bit shoehorned in to break things up. But he largely keeps the thematic plate spinning.

In fact, it’s an almost tossed-away line about Meehan getting furiously proactive to help his disabled mother that proves most inspiring. Gripes aside, Class Act is a show that might just motivate you to take action too.