Paul Tonkinson's great strength as a stand-up is his characterisation. He can't, seemingly, affect an accent from outside the Yorkshire county boundary, and his lanky frame is too distinctive to ever allow him to truly become anyone other than himself. Yet in the exaggerated cartoon-like voices he adopts, he conjures up a varied cast of homely characters that populate his warm-hearted set.
It is a little cosy, perhaps, but the evocation of friends, family and other northern characters, which he subsequently mocks with great affection, makes for plenty of well-observed comedy of recognition.
He's confident in his abilities, too. So although understated, he remains in calm control of his audience, whether in his prepared material or in his quietly genial banter.
There's no great agenda here, nor any great attempts to push comedy into bold new areas. But 'Tonks' is a solid, dependable craftsman, producing a robust package of well-finished comic character sketches that are generally appreciated with the same warmth with which they are delivered.
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