Akmal Live
The Arts Theatre
Thurs 6 March
Until Sun 16 March


If you hear any rumours about Akmal Saleh's set at this year's Fringe (and Joel Osbourne's support) being exactly the same as last year's, don't believe a word of it. When the diminutive stand-up asked the audience for questions, someone suggested this. I saw Akmal's show last year, and while one or two jokes may have gotten a second airing - the guy's only human - he has plenty of new stuff to share. And as usual it's a hoot.

Even Osbourne, who came with him last time to warm up the crowd and didn't strike me as up to the standard of the main act, lifted his game this year, finishing with a high-powered and crowd-pleasing impression of medium John Edwards. Akmal then takes the stage and shows off his greatest attribute: his charm. He knows the city he's in, he responds well (and quickly) to the audience, and he delivers his material at rapid-fire pace to keep the laughs coming. Whether he's shouting jokes at the audience or looking shamefaced at the occasional tasteless line, he has the crowd on side all through (with that one exception).

Akmal actually handled the heckler very well, able to admit that writing jokes is hard and he might repeat the odd one. Osbourne, on the other hand, gave him the finger, to the crowd's approval. He only worried that the interjector may have been a reviewer getting ready to roast him the next day. Rest assured, Mr. Saleh, this reviewer says keep up the good work.

Henry Nicholls