In the opening section of What If, Portuguese comic André de Freitas namechecks Jim Gaffigan, Chris Rock and Russell Peters with the enthusiasm of an audiophile pushing some obscure LP into your hands. Anyone familiar with these arena-filling comics will be in comfortable territory with de Freitas, who spends much of his set mining comical cultural differences of the ‘aren’t Australians/Brits/Americans/insert-nationality-here all like this’ variety. 

So far so so-so. But there’s a grizzly side to de Freitas’ autobiography, one in which his uncomplicated optimism pushes him towards financially desperate situations (homelessness, dead end jobs, an attempt to become a male escort), making his safe set-ups and pay-offs excusable by the palpable sense of a life lived. Material about his schizophrenic uncle, in particular, noticeably capture the audience’s interest, not least because de Freitas usually finds entertaining routes through these choppy waters. 

With a disappointing inevitability, the hour’s conclusion finds a sentimental ending for its storyline, seemingly more interested in sending audiences home with a light heart than a killer punchline. There’s plenty of interest here, but de Freitas’ mission to sand the rough edges from his material leaves the lasting impression that What If could use a little more grit. 

André de Freitas: What If, Pleasance Courtyard, until 27 August, 8.10pm.