Harry Stachini: Grenade

Edinburgh Fringe – Underbelly

As far as comedy sets go, Harry Stachini’s new hour Grenade, will tick just about every box for a comedy fan; a central narrative with meticulously detailed segues that build up this world within the routine to the point where the laughter (and even occasional ‘oof’) becomes involuntary as we hang on to Stachini’s every word. 

There’s an unobtrusiveness to the way that Grenade begins, in that it isn’t particularly clear that the show has started or whether Stachnini is delivering a preamble based in audience interactions, but in doing so means that the first punchline hits us like a ton of bricks, setting the tone and expectation for the rest of the set. Grenade is an anecdotal show that circles around a metaphor for how monumental problems are dealt with, focusing in on Stachini’s experience of pulling his own ‘pin’.  Within this story  is a host of colourful characters that he vividly brings to life and peppers in throughout his segues and main through-line.

“This is a perfect show for anyone who wants to laugh, clutch their pearls or both, Grenade is a set not to be missed.”

Stachini has a good sense of judgement in placing a line,  pushing an initial false start of stunned or nervous laughter as far as it might go without every delving too deeply into uncomfortable territory. After all, even his starting point may be outside many people’s comfort zone, and just escalates from there. We are challenged, but in a way that is also fun for us, for our experience of the show.

The humour in this show can’t really be described as either edgy or dark per se, but rather brutally honest, aided by the way it appears to be delivered verbatim as a stream of consciousness.  Stachini possesses a friendly, easy charm that makes his delivery come across quite naturally, as if he’s chatting to the audience off the cuff rather than delivering a routine.  This is a set where the laughs per minute must break some kinds of records just due to Stachini’s relentless pace and quick-delivery which continuosuly kicks up the energy in the room so that it never settles. It’s a comedy show where Stachini cleverly demonstrates versatility within the genre.

This is a perfect show for anyone who wants to laugh, clutch their pearls or both, Grenade is a set not to be missed. Stachini is a conductor of a stand-up comedian with laughter as his orchestra. 

By Katerina Partolina Schwartz

Photo credit: Lewis Coleman