Christian Talbot: Hello Cruel World

• Rowena McIntosh
• 7 August 2014

This article is from 2014.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy show hampered by dry delivery and stale references

This unassuming Irish comedian probably does well at short open mic spots as all his decent gags could be fitted neatly into a ten minute show. His better material, including a series of mock entries in office work cards to colleagues he’s never met, are brilliantly dark and when he’s reading from the scripted pages his pace is perfect. Elsewhere his delivery lets him down; he lacks energy on stage and his humour isn’t dry enough to compliment the downbeat style with several punch lines lost in his favoured monotone. The show is well structured with a few pithy one liners thrown in between the longer routines and a running joke established early on, which unfortunately only draws a weak smile the first time and doesn’t improve. His material is mostly very relatable and his angry comments about his co-workers' daft questions or his Dad's delusion that you can use up all the wi-fi are some of his best. However he makes several references to people who might have been household names in the eighties, but haven't maintained their popularity to be known by the younger members of the audience, or their relevance to be funny to the older members.

Underbelly, Bristo Square, 08445 458 252, until 25 Aug (not 12) £9– £10 (£8– £9).