Andrew O'Neill's Totally Spot-On History of British Industry

A title such as this might give the impression you are going to be charged a tuition fee. But while you might learn a fair bit, Andrew O’Neill’s insane presentation is no lecture.

Taking the pointless task of off-stage self introduction seriously, O’Neill bounds out after a disclaimer detailing the many mechanical double entendres that won’t be in the show. The tone is well set for an act that seems lovingly, yet effortlessly put together, and for once the accompanying graphics fit well with the performance.

O’Neill is clearly adept at his particular brand of dynamic comedy, contrasting his manic energy with moments of calm collection to give the routine an exciting and very unpredictable tempo. He is also just twisted and hyperactive enough to turn the story of one of Britain’s most celebrated achievements into the farce it deserves to be.

At one point O'Neill ropes the audience into helping him spice up a segment on textile advances, and he also manages to salvage the occasional slip-up with some knowing and endearingly manipulative ad-libbing.

The dead-pan jokes regularly sneak up on you as you try to distinguish fact from absurdity, while the wealth of inaccurate information is often interrupted by O’Neill’s crazed tangents. The whole experience is much like having a knowledgeable and well presented asylum inmate sharing his insanity with you. Some of the maddest and best comedy at the Fringe.