Bob Slayer is a passionate man. His Iraq Out And Loud Chilcot Report reading from last year’s festival is testament to his integrity and imagination. The tangents that he meanders on seem to hint at embryonic notions of future projects interspersed with with eccentric storytelling. A diversion into family relations is sold on his honesty and conviction as opposed to a definable punchline.
He regales the upper deck of the Blundabus with tales of his father (a Calor Gas Rep), BBC snub, his career as a jockey and fury at the business models of several high profile venues on the Fringe. When he talks of the latter his indignation is understandable and the subsequent examples (backed up with relevant statistics) provide a persuasive justification for Slayer’s rejection of the status quo.
Shambling from one topic to the next no common thread is likely to reveal itself but thankfully neither is Slayer this time. There is evident pride as he explains how the bus had been prepared and the machinations he went through in order to drive it on a normal licence (educational purposes only). He uses his set to promote the other comics at his venue and as he speaks his altruism is affecting and genuine which is what makes Slayer such a friendly presence. There is something to be admired in a performer who ploughs his own furrow and drives his own bus.
When he characterises his father’s career as a variety of different jobs stating “he would master them then he would move on to something else” he could almost be outlining his performing ethos. One gets the distinct impression that Slayer feeds off the projects he unveils and institutions he opposes as a method of staving off any possibility of boredom. Whatever next?… Whatever works!