Mark Silcox @ Monkey Barrel

Mark Silcox is somewhat of a minor celebrity these days. Having made appearances in recent TV series like Diane Morgan’s Mandy and Big Boys, you’d expect these roles to embody a different character to his stand-up. That is very much not the case. Silcox is quiet, boring, monotone. But most importantly, he’s generous. He’s generous with the length of his jokes (in that not much happens and they’re all too long), generous with his explanations on how to cure a cough and generous with the chickpeas he feeds every single audience member (which sounds threatening, but really isn’t).

Alongside George Egg, Silcox completes the ‘Catering Comedy’ category of the Fringe; taking a hefty 20 minutes in the middle of his show to make teas and coffees and boiled eggs for the crowd. It’s such a startling thing to happen in the middle of a comedy show, you can’t help but giggle at the sheer what-the-fuckness of it all. His lecture-like presentation (both pre- and post-catering) with its hand-printed slide show is deliciously shonky, means absolutely nothing, but does end with a bang.

Barely anything happens but that’s the point. It’s slow and it’s stupid and it absolutely isn’t for everyone. Sure, more jokes would be great and if you’re looking for a performer with pizazz and charisma, Silcox isn’t the man for you. Yet it’s fascinating to be in the middle of what feels like an insane social experiment; the lowest-key hostage situation anyone could find themselves in.

I Can Cure... is the embodiment of gentle anti-comedy to the extent of being yawnsome but there’s something about it which feels electric. If it were in any other Fringe venue, there would be walkouts in droves but Monkey Barrel brings Silcox an audience with just the right amount of wonder and bafflement.

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Mark Silcox: I Can Cure... [Perfect and Arena-Ready Show], Monkey Barrel (Studio, Niddry St), until 28 Aug, 5.45pm, £8-10