When Ian Smith last performed at the Fringe, it was with a show about his recent engagement. Smith is no longer engaged. He also isn’t married. But, he insists, Crushing is categorically not a break-up show. Instead, it’s about all the things that have caused him stress over the last year: Radio 4 pronunciation pedants, fridges, and his teeth all come under fire as sources of perturbation in this well-crafted, joke-heavy show. But not his break-up, of course. 

Smith is a talented physical performer and is at his best when his slightly surreal set-pieces crescendo, such as his acting out of his imagined sinister tooth fairy surrogate, the Arm Fairy. He could perhaps have benefited from taking these well-crafted moments even further. Eventually we learn how Smith has most effectively dealt with his stress: getting into a tank in Bratislava to crush a Toyota . . . aided by his hairdresser. This anecdote, allied to an impressive roster of callbacks results makes for a strong finale. Crushing is a consistent hour that flows along smoothly, and Smith is almost impossible not to like. Here’s hoping his next relationship isn’t quite as stressful.

Ian Smith: Crushing, Monkey Barrel The Tron, until 27 August, 1.35pm (plus Monkey Barrel, 26 August, 8.30pm).