When Andrew Maxwell performed Banana Kingdom at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer the narrative spine of the show was Scotland’s quest for independence. Having now travelled 400 miles south this political hot potato is a little cooler, leaving something of a hole in his set. Luckily the convivial Dubliner is seasoned enough to fill the gap and then some.
Without this heavyweight theme last night’s gig became a jamboree bag of Halloween wigs, free sweets and relaxed but deceptively sharp banter, with a pick-and-mix of touring anecdotes a speciality. Notable highlights included a tale of bravely scaling Sydney Harbour Bridge and an inventive attempt to shock some kinky Norwegians.
Even when Maxwell resorted to familiar stand-up tropes such as Facebook, pitbulls and gastropubs he was quietly scintillating. On the subject of gentrification the self-deprecating London-based comic recently realised that “I’m the last scumbag on my road.”
If this felt like coasting at least he was coasting in style. It would have been interesting to hear more about his Muslim wife, mentioned in passing.
Perhaps that could be his next show. Instead he recalled police hassle in Vegas. He did not scale the heights of Sydney Harbour Bridge onstage but he was certainly arresting.
Until Nov 10, 020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com
