Raybon Kan: Spermbank Millionaire - Fringe 2009
Live Review

No, I’ve no idea what the title means, either. Raybon Kan is a Chinese Kiwi, not Indian, and doesn’t – thank God – talk about sperm banks. Nor millionaires

Instead he provides an hour of amiable, confident stand-up, low in impact but perfectly acceptable. Had you paid for the show you might have wanted more, but it’s not bad for nothing.

He is, at least according to his own publicity, something of a big deal in New Zealand, and asks a couple of times if there are any fellow countrymen in, presumably so he can ride that goodwill of being recognisable, and he certainly has that sort of bland inoffensiveness that can have broad appeal.

An early gag runs along the lines of ‘what’s the deal with luggage shops at airports?’ which has been done before, and probably noticed by most of us. Who’s turning up with stuff, but no way of carrying it?

There are more easy pickings to be had by mocking sport, pointing out the inherent ridiculousness of the endeavours, launched because of the Beijing Olympics. There are a few playful quips about his detachment from his Chinese heritage, but, like so much of his extended set, remains purely superficial.

His packed room in the Globe pub is one of the hottest in Edinburgh – and there’s quite some competition for that title – and he doesn’t have the strength of material to overcome the sluggishness that engenders in the audience. They’re listening OK, but not laughing much, but to be fair, he’s not giving them much reason to.