HAL Cruttenden is worried. He's worried about being overweight, he's worried about the bills, he's worried about his large face…
He's even worried about sounding effeminate. He's not effeminate, though – just southern English.
One thing he need
n't worry about is being funny. He has that down pat, with a well-structured, nicely scripted show that he puts across well.
Cruttenden's also very funny when he goes off script, whether bouncing off the audience or bouncing his trainers off a poor, innocent fly.
Still, the insect murder did meet his desire to be edgier, more dangerous. I say he should stay as sweet as he is, as his stories made for a terribly entertaining hour.
For whether talking about his Northern Irish wife's upbringing during the Troubles, his rubbish ability to comfort little girls beset by bad dreams, or great-grandad's war record, he's funny and likeable. He has the actor's ability to let a story build and, when he peaks, his animation is a joy.
If Cruttenden has a weakness, it's that he doesn't believe how good he is – the occasional micro-expression tells the tale, as he frets that a line didn't get a huge laugh. But he needn't worry so much… from where I was sitting he was going down pretty well. So, Hal, use those worries for the run, then come down off that sodding molehill. Relax, you've earned it.
• Until 25 August. Today 7:35pm
The full article contains 256 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
