Russell Kane: Human Dressage

A self-styled “pseudo-intellectual”, Russell Kane uses his comedy primarily to explore and share his specialist subject of human interaction. Having employed experiences gained travelling in the US and Australia to develop seminal comedic work on the differing behaviours of English speaking peoples, Kane now shifts his focus to the encroaching feminisation of British society and its implications for the young and horny British male.

Sweating like a marathon runner as he launches himself to every corner of his stage, Kane’s camp and contorted movements are enough on their own to set the audience into giggles. Kane is what one might term a 'metrosexual', and so his theory that men are attempting to emulate their resurgent female quarry in order to attract a modern mate fits rather too snugly to make much intellectual sense. But as verbose sciencey bits make way for tales of arguments with his hard-nosed East End dad and getting ‘caught’ by his nan, the overall structure of a brilliantly conceived set starts to fall into place.

Like a wailing toddler, Kane requires attention to be paid from all sectors of the audience – “apathetic row” included. What with the fairly complicated theme as well, this is no light entertainment gig: just watching this man is reason enough for many to seek several restorative pints after the show.

It’s a busy Fringe for Kane this year, as he also performs daily in his Fakespeare comic play. He's looking a little more fraught than usual tonight and one can only hope that this talented writer and performer won’t find himself overstretched.