After gaining significant online acclaim through social media and, in his own words, limited TV appearances, Vittorio Angelone brings his stand up set You Can’t Say Nothing Anymore to the Edinburgh Fringe for a limited time before taking his show on tour across the UK.
I’d never seen a queue for a show as long as the one outside of Assembly Hall, Vittorio’s online reputation has a long reach, and that helps with what’s to come. He addresses it himself, if anyone has been dragged along, they’ll probably leave in the first 10 minutes. His jokes are close-to-the-bone or require one to dig through the punchline to find the “subtext” hidden beneath. In truth the subtext isn’t hidden at all, it’s clear as day for anyone who’s seen a comedy show before, but there’s always going to be those people who take offence. Angelone’s comedy could be misconstrued as offensive, or seen for what it is; incredibly well constructed, observationally astute and immensely funny.
Angelone has a knack for taking incredibly sensitive topics and addressing the obvious awkwardness of it all, while finding a way to keep the laughs coming and clearly, and vehemently broadcasting his stance on political issues. His audience, having watched him online, agree with these stances. Making the night less awkward, allowing the audience to relax, free of contested ideologies and able to listen to what he has to say. Using his heritage and familial ties to The Troubles to comment on and somehow jovially talk about current conflicts in the Middle East is a skill that is admirable. Whenever Angelone delves a little further into his family and their say nothing approach to that turbulent time in the late 20th Century, the comedy comes in droves but also from places the audience don’t expect.
Angelone sprinkles in callbacks throughout, not just to hammer home at the end. He leans into offensive or controversial territory but always rides the line perfectly while connecting it to something tangible. Perfectly timed pauses to drink water allow heavier or more complex jokes their time to land and the audience to really drink them in.
Angelone utilises mocking a comedy critic for a decent chunk of his routine, while this had me nervously tugging at my collar, knowing I am able to read the gallons of subtext on display and appreciate his acute, in depth understanding of political landscapes and true public opinions, I hope I’m safe.
Angelone hopes his audience sees his stand up as art, always striving to make art when doing comedy. It’s safe to say that here Angelone has crafted his Sistine Chapel. By finding ways to cover incredibly sensitive topics with grace and an impressive foresight, bringing back moments that delight the audience, incorporating hilarious lighting cues, animated body language and facial expressions (that hopefully won’t get him sued) Angelone delivers an incredibly thoughtful hour and a bit of lose-your-voice-from-laughing stand up that truly distracts the audience from all the horrible stuff happening in the world, while simultaneously talking to them about it.
“I’d rather be cringe than say nothing when terrible things are going on.”
Vittorio Angelone: you can’t Say Nothing any more | Assembly Festival
Theatre Scotland 
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