Chris Martin: No. Not That One

Sharing your name with a celebrity may raise the odd eyebrow, but as Chris Martin’s first solo Fringe show, No. Not That One proves, having the same name as the lead singer of Coldplay can also form the basis for a sound and surprising standup routine.

While Martin’s name and the burden of sharing it with the wettest man in soft rock dominate the anecdotes and sketches that start the show, this Fringe debut quickly moves towards his real strength: observational comedy.

Although his stories concentrate on social faux pas and some seemingly everyday and apparently never-ending humiliations—from the challenges of reverse parking in public, to befriending the dodgy bloke in the pub, to the heartbreak of losing a much-loved pet—Martin’s show, while somewhat slow to start, showcases his talent for finding the funny in many an unexpected situation.

While audience participation in comedy can be a little unnerving for any comic, Martin’s questions to the audience are well received and his responses are professional, slick, and above all, very funny. Although his self-deprecating style of humour can get a little tired, on the whole this is a Fringe debut that Martin should be proud of.