Four Stars
It's another solid outing by the king of observational list-o-mania, T.J. Dawe, who is becoming something of an institution on the circuit, deservedly so. Once again he resorts (literally in this case) to a former crappy summer job for the centre of his expert storytelling, in this case a five-week stint at a Butlin's holiday camp in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Sandwiched between two inexplicable, possibly metaphysical events, we meet his mates Damon and Monica, who drink up their paycheques each Tuesday, smoke spliffs and weather the musical likes of The Chuckle Fun Factory for a hefty 66 quid a week. It's a great diving platform for Dawe, who ponders myriad Brit quirks to often hilarious effect, from their unflinching use of the c-word to the excitement of the Mr. Knobbly Knees contest, all set in a festive concentration camp atmosphere. In an uncertain world of near-entertainment, Dawe remains someone we can depend on.
Alan Kellogg
Edmonton Journal
August 2003
