Return of the Lumberjacks

It's been 14 years since Glenn Wool, Craig Campbell and Stuart Francis last brought their redneck roadshow to the Fringe. And they sure seem happy to be back.

With Francis a regular on TV panel shows, Glenn Wool a successful touring comic both in the UK and in North America and Craig Campbell carving out a successful niche as a crowd pleasing audience handler, expectations for this year's Return of the Lumberjacks are high. As far as Fringe triple-bills go, this is a pretty big deal.

Things are not helped, unfortunately, by a tech delay meaning that this Friday night audience is less boisterous than it might otherwise have been. Craig Campbell does an admirable job of warming them up, but the little energy that is generated is lost during the first change-over. This leaves Glenn Wool delivering his—objectively strong—material to a strangely lukewarm reception. Perhaps it doesn't help that he is also retreading the ground covered in his highly acclaimed 2010 show.

The appearance of Stuart Francis, however, shifts the dynamic of the audience completely. Despite his one liners hardly being at the cutting edge of standup, tonight they're lapped up with raucous belly laughs. Even Francis himself seems a little taken aback at this reception.

Coupled with an ill thought out appearance from pro-wrestler turned standup, Mick Foley, this is a strange return to Edinburgh by the Lumberjacks. Nevertheless, their obvious skill and poise make it a perfectly enjoyable hour.