Ciarán Dowd @ Pleasance Dome

In his third Edinburgh Fringe outing, Ciarán Dowd’s Spanish lothario, Don Rodolfo, has been crowned King (after swashbuckler and priest respectively). He’s all swagger and sex, even as a monarch, and Dowd wears it impeccably well. He holds a natural rapport with his audience, especially whilst picking folk out of the crowd and describing them as members of his court (watch out for the one known as the Cocktopus).

When approached by a member of his adoring public with a problem (he wants to marry his goat), Rodolfo goes into politician mode, embarking on a Trumpian campaign until he reaches the then-King’s gates. He hatches an ingenious (and disgusting) plan to take the issue forward and becomes King à la Tim Allen in The Santa Clause (if you kill it, you have to become it). Further complications arise when his son, the uniquely named Dragons, is introduced – a beautiful boy who clearly takes after Frank Sidebottom – and wants to follow in his father’s footsteps.

King Rodolfo contains some excellent visual gags, particularly from his son and the two heralds throughout the hour, and although the storytelling feels a little predictable, Dowd’s charm absolutely pulls it off. After three Fringes, Dowd’s character is well-bedded (presumably in more ways than one) and there’s an ease with which he slips into Rodolfo’s black cowboy boots. At times the humour verges on too puerile for the weak-stomached (which Dowd almost seems to revel in) but it’s balanced out by its stupidity and ticks the box for a well-needed hour of pure escapism. The question now is how can Rodolfo ascend even further?

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Ciarán Dowd: King Rodolfo, Pleasance Dome (Queen Dome), until 28 Aug, 9.50pm, £11-14