Review by Steve Bennett

Much of his routine seems to depend on common stereotypes, with nothing to add nor any distinctive twist to make it his own. It seems like a close impersonation of comedy, but without a solid grasp of the principles behind what is funny. His persona, outlook and style are too muddled for that.

He likes to have a chat with the audience, and regularly comperes at his own room-above-a-pub comedy club in London. Again, the conversation flows readily, but too often this didn’t lead to satisfying punchlines. Perhaps that’s why his banter still couldn’t bring the small-but-feisty audience into line when Chortle saw him.

However, his inconsequential material is lifted by the series of songs which punctuate his set. It’s possibly because by having to stick to the lyrics and maintain the rhythm, his tendency to stray off the point is suppressed.

Again, he’s not averse to a few obvious ‘route one’ lines, but in the songs they’re the exception rather than the rule, as he manages to find unexpected twists in the rhymes. Wisely, too, he keeps these tracks short – maybe just a verse and a chorus to get the jokes across – for fear of overstaying his welcome.

Musical comedy is clearly his forte - as for the rest, it’s pretty much take-it-or-leave it stuff.

Review date: 12 Jun 2007
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett