There’s an inarguable boldness to asking a guy on the front row ‘what’s your favourite thing about sex?’ at 3.30pm. (‘The way it feels’ was the response, in case you’re wondering.)

Yep, Eric Rushton has incorporated a new lothario swagger into his comic persona. All of which works comedically because, I’m sorry to report, it’s coming from someone with an otherwise pretty dweeby demeanour. 

Besides, he balances all this bluster with substantially more real talk about his inadequacies, since he suffers erectile dysfunction at the hands of his antidepressants. Hearing this kind of discussion in the middle of the afternoon is something of a quintessential Fringe experience, but rest assured Rushton makes it funny. Indeed, you may well never hear anybody else be as funny on the subject of citalopram.

The bold crowdwork continues along the same theme: ‘What’s your favourite type of porn?’ There’s different kinds of laughter in the room as the gentleman replies naming a particular ethnicity, causing Rushton to consider it judicious to point out to people who cannot see the audience member that he does actually belong to that same ethnicity. Gales of laughter, even before Rushton follows it up with: ‘I don’t watch porn, I think it’s disgusting.’

All of which constitutes a pretty thrilling opening to Innkeeper, Rushton’s third show in as many years. But can he keep it up?

We could be here all day naming other dark-tinged comic highlights, as Rushton talks a friend out of suicide; prefers to be told he has body dysmorphia and brandishes a great line aligning himself with feminism.  This neurodivergent comedian also copes well with the additional stimulation when a disco light in the (nightclub) venue malfunctions, starts beeping, and doesn’t stop for the whole rest of the show.

The only letdown, then, is the narrative, which sadly isn’t the strongest. Occasionally diverting but not really compelling, as formative performances (and their related romances) across his life weave in and out of each other. Which means this show isn’t quite Rushton’s best, among what is still shaping up to be a fine body of work. 

If Innkeeper doesn’t end up propelling his career further forward, it’s certainly enough to ensure it doesn’t lose momentum either.