” bold, joyful and brilliantly crafted. a fantastic example of what comedy can do at its peak”
5*****
Sam Lake has crafted a beautiful hour of comedy, leaving no stereotype unturned. On it’s surface, as the title suggests, this is another ‘coming out’ story. But at its core, it’s a masterful critique of masculinity and preconceived notions about identity that turns, almost imperceptibly, onto you, the viewer.
Lake sets the scene early on in the show. He saw Billy Elliot as a kid, and his main takeaway was the dancing. He’s a queer kid in a straight world, just trying to have fun with flags. The first half is incredibly enjoyable. My pen hovers between 3 and 4 stars as Lake, with charm, sharp writing, and a twinkle in his eye, draws you in with familiar laughs — tales of being ‘the gay man’ in the female friendship group, and the quiet terror of coming out.
It’s clear he can write jokes. His experience as a comic comes through in expertly placed call-backs and expert timing. He’ll turn around and look over his shoulder, and like a well-trained audience, we learn to anticipate a great punchline. He sprinkles in some filthy jokes, tops and bottoms and all the rest, aimed at the straightest-looking men in his eyeline. One recurring character, “the Puce Man”, represents that red-faced, stubborn masculinity so many queer people are taught to appease. And in our audience? There he was. Second row. Arms crossed. Perfect. I find my eyes darting back to this one symbolic audience member.
But then something special happens. Almost without warning, the show turns — gently but decisively — and everything you’ve laughed at so far takes on new weight. The easy charm, the camp nostalgia, the anecdotes you thought you understood: it was all groundwork. You realise Lake has been stitching a deeper story into the fabric of the set the whole time, right under your nose.
I don’t want to deprive anybody the experience of witnessing the transformation of this show. I feel oddly privileged to have been taken on a journey that caught me out, someone who would easily self-identify as a ‘woke ally’. I had my mind opened and my previous opinions challenged. I was taken in, hook-line-and-sinker and I’d so glad for it. This show receives 5 stars because it’s a fantastic example of what comedy can do at its peak- challenge preconceptions, take an audience on a journey, and build a new message. Sam Lake held the audience in the palm of his hand, and as if by design, by the end, even the Puce Man smiled on cue.
A bold, joyful and brilliantly crafted set from a comic in full control. I cant wait to see what’s next.
Sam Lake: You’re joking?! Not Another One?
Monkey Barrel (Tron)
13:35 | 1st-24th (not 11th)
Sam Lake: You’re joking?! Not Another One? *****
Published on
Edinburgh Fringe 2025 
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