Show Rating:

Rob Rouse is an energetic, effervescent performer, but his bubblegum comedy seems increasingly superficial and immature for a man approaching his 30th birthday.

He bounded on stage and chatted animatedly about his day, his drunken neighbours, his auditions and explained how he came to be wearing a T-shirt promoting the boy band Blazing Squad.

In an attempt to endear the audience he shared various aspects of his life, his village upbringing, his disdain for middle-class comedians - professing instead desire to celebrate life, music and cats.

Rouse's manner takes in elements of Daniel Kitson and Ross Noble, but his material falls a long way short of their standards. At one point he gave up struggling with it for some audience badinage, but this didn't fare much better. Although he did dish out ice pops, which would endear him to any overheated punters.

The guitar was then produced for a rendition of Radiohead's Creep in a particulary whingy voice - very amusing, but an isolated moment of hilarity in an otherwise unexciting show.

Ultimately, Rouse's 'mucking about in the student bar' mentality feels far too slight. He would be better off employing his obvious talent to less juvenile and puerile material.