Fringe review: Sorry for the Late Reply
With a slow-burn mentality, stand-up Rowan Thambar’s tale of true crime rewards patience. ★★★
Did you know you can ghost the police by email? It’s not the kind of question most stand-up shows open with, but that’s exactly the point. In Sorry for the Late Reply, Rowan Thambar unpacks the time he witnessed a ‘moderate crime’ while playing catch with his wife in a local park. What follows isn’t a high-speed thriller, but something far more relatable: the slow, awkward panic of a man who isn’t quite sure how involved he wants to be.
Thambar builds the story carefully, squeezing comedy out of email exchanges with police, overthinking and the strange weight of doing ‘the right thing’. His delivery is casual and self-aware, which works well for a show built on discomfort. A question about whether anyone has ever seen blackcurrants becomes one of the more playful moments and there are also sharp asides about working behind the scenes in television, immigration and modern friendships, adding texture without pulling focus.
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It’s an easy, engaging hour that rewards patience. Audiences who enjoy awkward real-life spirals and comedians who lean into their own indecision will find plenty to appreciate.
Sorry for the Late Reply is playing at Alley Cat at Rhino Room February 24 – February 28
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