If Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll had a love child, the result would be a grinning 5ft Scot with an arsenal of absurd pun-studded songs wielding a double bass and a pocketful of anecdotes about Oz. Edinburgh beware: Wee Leggie has returned home.
As an award winning comedian, Legg is versatile enough to think on his feet, but the jokes don’t reach the punch quickly enough
Born and bred in Edinburgh, John Legg, known better by his stage name ‘Wee Leggie’, lived for 40 years in Adelaide, Australia, where the Scot garnered his experiences for his comedy. Legg’s humour draws upon the nature of taboo by incorporating lyrics to otherwise embarrassing or uncomfortable topics including incontinence, euthanasia and cannibalism, all the while plucking along to his wooden companion. At the same time he draws upon his experiences in Australia to bring a somewhat richer experience for the audience. Legg is informative about his work, though has a bizarre habit of rhyming his words into his songs before actually singing as he peddles an entertaining medley of tunes. Memorable numbers include The Thong Song, Failure in Australia and Small Men’s Sizes.
As an award winning comedian, Legg is versatile enough to think on his feet, but the jokes don’t reach the punch quickly enough, which is arguably the biggest problem the show suffers from, whilst at the times the act feels a little lowbrow. That said, however, anyone who can make a tale about a trip to a stationery store interesting deserves some praise. The act as whole slowly gets better as it progresses, whilst the audience will appreciate their input in the last couple of songs as Legg involves them in the chorus.
For a free show, An Elephant in the Room does deliver some laughs and some ridiculous songs that are mildly amusing, though does not live up to the standards of your average paid show. That said, if you are looking for something that borders the ‘out there’ zone on the Fringe then toddle down to Finnegan’s Wake and witness the Mad Hatter himself and his double bass; just don’t expect to find Alice with him.
