Mark Trenwith
Danger
Electric Light Hotel
Until Sat 15 March


It's probably not fair to base the quality of a show on the basis of an earlier performance by the same comedian, especially if the first show is the only other one you've seen. And yet I have to say that Mark Trenwith, who impressed me so much last year with 'Be My Friend', let me down a little this time. Not that he fell completely flat, because he had many good moments, but it felt like there was something lacking.

Just as before, there's more to Trenwith's comedy than just standing up and telling jokes. There are short videos, graphics, and an overall theme. In 'Danger', the idea is that Mark, stung by his girlfriend's suggestion that he would be unable to protect her in a conflict situation, sets out to prove he can be a tough guy. And maybe it's that 50 minutes is not enough to develop this concept properly, or maybe he's just not focussed enough to keep it going, but at the end of it all it just doesn't hang together so well.

That said, there are some genuinely funny moments. Trenwith works best when maintaining his absurd, hyperactive goofball persona. The multimedia portions are still where he shines the most, and one of the best lines comes from the comedian admitting a joke remains in the show simply because it took him five days to complete.

When he plays to his strengths, Trenwith is supremely good; 'Be My Friend' proved that to me. He just has to stay focussed and keep polishing, and he'll go very far.

Henry Nicholls