A pit stop tour of everything Gen Z has to offer in 2026 so far, the comedy duo Chuck’n’Jeck (Charlie Lacy and Jess Render), pack their show with niche TikTok references, parodies of Hollywood and even the Vicar of Dibley. While I wouldn’t say there is something for everyone (older generations will be completely lost), there is enough to satisfy the deteriorating attention of young people.
The duo were great together as they navigated a mass of silly little jokes, which ultimately was where they shined. Most noticeable was how comfortable the two were with one another, creating a space that the audience feels welcomed into. While some transitions were clunky and nerves somewhat present, these issues seemed to be things that shall easily iron out as their run progresses. While Chuck was best at quips and in-person comedy, Jeck’s role in their sketch comedy really stood out.
I found myself often caught off-guard during the show. Sometimes it was references that got involuntarily cackles out of me for being so niche or creative, but at other times it was the use of AI that knocked me out of the show. While I expected much more AI to be present at this Fringe, it is already disappointing to see it within the festival. It is a complicated issue, and integral to a lot of Gen Z humour though I don’t feel it was handled well enough to be disregarded. Despite this, the duo clearly put a lot of time and effort into their video elements which were effective and well made.
The show has a great multimedia element of video, sound, audience interaction, sketch and stand-up which created a variety of laughs throughout. While the pacing could very slightly be improved, I was never bored. The intro to the show was a highlight for me as it set up the expected humour and tone very well, and prepared me to experience immense TikTok slop for an hour.
It’s as you would expect any Oscars show to be with nominations, adverts and fashion criticisms but Chuck’n’Jeck transform the night into a camp and silly time.
123movies.com is running until 30 August (excluding 19th) at Bothie at Gilded Balloon Patter House. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by ChucknJeck as press material.
