Z - The Silence of the Trams

A short video clip notwithstanding, this four-man stand-up show is in fact devoid of references to Edinburgh's interminable tram works. Sadly, it seems almost as empty where comedic flair is concerned.

Jeff O'Boyle opens the show with well-worn gags about inbreeding and drunk Catholic priests in his native Ireland – only moving away from these tired avenues with an inevitable Michael Jackson reference, convincing his audience to dance along to 'Thriller'. It's a pointless addition to the set: as O'Boyle himself admits, the audience have come for "jokes more than dancing."

Jim Park is next up, followed by Martin McAllister. Both are popular regulars here at the stand; but the former's tired junk email jokes, and the latter's derivative surrealism, serve only to highlight the show's lack of originality. Gordon Alexander's closing routine, with uninspired comments on newspaper clippings and newspaper advertisements, round off a disjointed, amateurish performance.