Joseph Morpurgo may not be a household name, but he’s about as big a cult Fringe figure can get. He arrived with a bang in 2013, followed up his arrival with two separate Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominations in the years that followed, and then promptly disappeared from the spotlight. Though not a total exit – he cofounded and is still a major player in the acclaimed Austentatious, and a writer for various Aardman and BBC projects – he nevertheless has kept a lot of Fringe-goers waiting.
In spite of the hype, his comeback does not disappoint. Inspired by a found object, a 1970s American high school yearbook, Highlander 70 is one of the leanest and tightly crafted hours you’re likely to see all Fringe. Morpurgo mines the yearbook for every slight incongruity, inventing from it a year in the life of one soon-to-graduate student, who he plays: David Moon. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, the less said about how Morpurgo embodies Moon, the better. Suffice to say, his handbrake turns from wide-eyed enthusiasm to melancholy and back again are not only totally commanding but also strangely moving, evocative of the way John Hughes’ films hit you at age 15.
Morpurgo employs every tool in his arsenal – sight gags, a mammoth slideshow, audience participation – to build maximum laughs, but they never feels scattered or unmotivated. This is a quick-fire, precisely rehearsed hour that is as singular as it is silly. It’s far from textbook and yet an undeniable A+. Top class.
Joseph Morpurgo: Highlander 70, Pleasance Courtyard, 20-30 Aug, 7pm