Nick Doody
Pleasance Dome

For his first Edinburgh Fringe show this was remarkably polished and also remarkably funny, although having said that Doody has been an accomplished TV and radio writer for some time. Some very intelligent political material aimed at the usual suspects but hitting them well above the belt were mixed with songs which were both surreal and original. I always suspected that clowns had a hidden agenda and Doody's outrageously deviant opening song confirms all my fears. Doody's show is an ideal mix of political satire and surreal whimsy plus there's a hat.

Although playing at one of the bigger venues, Doody's show is what the Fringe is and should be about, new comedians trying out new stuff in small spaces and not treating the Fringe as an annual cash cow. Don't waste your time queuing in the rain around the block or waste your money (£20 for bloody Muppets) for the over-exposed TV stars at the Assembly Rooms, take a little time to read a few reviews and see the newcomers in small sweat-filled rooms and not only will you be the first to see the next big thing you'll also see much more original comedy than anything going on at the 'barn' size venues. Rant over.

Indeedy Doody.