Sins of the Grandfathers
Smirnoff Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Andrew Haydon
posted 22 August 2005

Dan Tetsell manages the neat trick of creating a very funny hour of stand-up comedy based on the fact that his maternal grandfather was a non-commissioned officer in the Waffen SS. Tetsell comes pre-recommended by virtue of having written comedy for a number of Radio and TV shows, as well as Basil Brush apparently. But as well as being an excellent writer, he is also a talented and engaging stage presence.

It feels a bit silly analysing points made by a stand-up comedian - they are only meant to be joking after all - but despite the fact that the Third Reich is a firm member of the not-a-laughing-matter camp, as well a being intelligent, searching and acute, the material is also very funny indeed. The show offers an analysis of the nature of evil, in probably the most congenial format imaginable. At its centre is the sense of shame experienced by the Germans, following the holocaust and the moral responsibilities of the individual when confronted with evil on such a monumental level. For comedy to ask these questions, and make the audience think, while still being funny is no mean feat. This is also one of the most original comedy shows around and one the Fringe's must-sees.