one4review | On 16, Aug 2019

Josh Glanc of the soulful puppy-dog eyes presents what looks like a straightforward stand-up/cabaret show, but is which is in fact a gleeful masterclass in manipulating an audience primed by Mr Glanc to be both complicit and utterly willing. Under his careful management, the show imperceptibly but relentlessly draws the audience in and drives them towards the final act.

After his initial song, Mr Glanc tells us his mum would rather he only sang on stage, and that his playing with reality during his comedy makes her nervous and worried for him. And so the show is a discourse on his comedy and his mother’s misinterpretations, though it’s also much more than that, with songs and silliness and random absurdist outbreaks.

Mr Glanc has a lovely voice, and a charisma which means the audience is hooked even before any words. There’s a variety of comic forms, including the absurdism, teasing the audience with fast cars, and some nonsense with anthropomorphic water containers, but all of it is with the aim of playing with audience expectations in the lead up to the finale.

A highly enjoyable and surprisingly meta hour.

Reviewed by Laura

Monkey Barrell 2
17:20 (until 25th)