Jeremy Lion’s Happy Birthday

Following last year’s Christmas celebrations, failed and frightening children’s entertainer Lion has returned, this time trying to prove his worth as a viable option for a children’s party. Using his own son (or at least the replica of his son) Baxter as an example of a child who would enjoy the party he has organised, and also picking a member of the audience to celebrate their birthday – whether they like it or not, Lion uses his hour as an extended audience to show the lovely ladies and gentlemen what they will get for their money.

Performers in Edinburgh quite often use their time and space as an extended audition for the telly or radio, and their slick routines and over rehearsed set pieces do begin to jar, so it’s a lovely relief to find yourself sitting in front of someone who appears to have absolutely no idea what he’s doing. Jeremy Lion stumbles his way through the show, producing ever increasingly inappropriate and frightening props to illustrate his moral stories and important childhood lessons. He assures his that Mr Shush the puppet, for example, always keeps the children quiet. That’s not surprising, and Mr Shush’s face and expression is now indelibly imprinted in our nightmares.

Jeremy Lion is a brilliant character, created and performed with astonishing clarity by The Consultants’ Justin Edwards. From the opening song that spells out his name ("M is for Murder", "Y is for Wine") to the closing tribute to his late father’s clowning routine, the degeneration of the show and the performer’s sanity is rapid and intense and hysterically entertaining. Jeremy Lion is a nightmarish creation, brilliantly observed and achingly performed.

5.50pm, Pleasance Upstairs