****

4 Stars

There is no doubt that Alun Cochrane is steadily building a reputation for himself as the busy Sunday night crowd will attest to, as Cochrane, double denim clad hit the stage accompanied only by his talent and a box ominously entitled jokes.

Cochrane is a comic who excels at a well crafted and observed story rather that a set up and punch line style, but he found out that during a pre-Xmas gig this was not for everyone. So for the Edinburgh show he has a box of one or two liners that he can periodically draw on, should it be necessary.

He spends the vast majority of the set doing his normal  storytelling , observational style, and has a raft of excellent material on a variety of subjects, sat nav, the coalition, communications, quality of life and health problems with both his wife and mother to the fore.

However he does dip into the box on a couple off occasions and reads out random jokes he has written which the audience get to vote to accept or reject. This was okay but I personally prefer the Cochrane I know, the funny story teller.

****

Reviewed by Geoff

Stand III V 12

6 to 29 August

21-15 to 22-15

Fringe Brochure P 25