Hal Cruttenden @ The Stand, Edinburgh, 11 Oct
Hal Cruttenden demonstrates his versatility in Straight Outta Cruttenden, but the most interesting material deserves more of his attention.
Before the main event, though, there's a treat in store as Fringe best newcomer nominee Larry Dean is the support act. It's an astute choice, as the two comedians are well matched. OK, one swigs Irn-Bru onstage and the other bottled mineral water, but masculinity and its vulnerabilities are a preoccupation for both.
More than that, they are equally at home here in The Stand as they would be entertaining those who prefer comedy in front of the TV on a Saturday night. In other words, they both have range.
Cruttenden was himself a best newcomer nominee back in 2002 and, now at 46, he maintains some of that 'getting to know you' charm of a new comedian. Indeed, the opening conceit concerns listening to gangsta rap while studying at York University with friends whose trust-funded lifestyles made them exactly the wrong demographic for the genre. The young Cruttenden afterwards went to drama school, which he describes as a more "down-to-earth" environment.
Despite the apparent anger that boils under his warm exterior, Cruttenden stays very firmly with popular observational topics and the sort of grumbles we'd hear at a house party: Ofsted results, a sore back, children who mock rather than respect... Sometimes, as with the latter topic, he goes in an interesting direction: here discussing his alpha-male father.
But he has plenty of barb, too. For instance, he uses the narcissism of status updates on social media as an inroad to some astute observations about our anxieties over death. Cruttenden also uses a story of meeting Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Performance to go from 'celeb' anecdote territory to a discussion about how the powerful play down their status with fawning politeness to distract from their privileged position.
He doesn't quite spend enough time on, or develop, the intriguing sections (although this is unlikely to disappoint his following). Yet when Cruttenden recalls how at school – the same school attended by Chancellor Gideon Osborne – he wasn't as bright as his contempories, he really should be consoled: his comedy is most memorable for the intelligent things he has to say.
Hal Cruttenden: Straight Outta Cruttenden plays The Stand, Glasgow, 12 Oct, 7.30pm, £15 and The Lowry, Salford, 1 Nov, 8pm, £18/£16