Cult New York comedian Dave Hill explodes onto the stage in a brash attack of the senses. It’s a startling, brief opener which understandably exhausts the poor man who quickly regresses to his nervous, painfully apprehensive self. Hill’s topics are broad indeed, from potential Poundland marketing slogans to a rambling anecdote about meeting the Maasai people. He sometimes embellishes gags with guitar riffs, a trick which helps perk up the room’s energy but he constantly sabotages all his efforts by purposely mumbling punchlines and swallowing his words.

Hill possesses a sort of downbeat charisma that would play well to a certain crowd but without the support of a like-minded throng he ends up looking rather lonely on stage. Seemingly uncertain of the audience reaction, he deliberately ruins a sparse piece of interaction to again retreat into his own little world. When he rapidly shifts between thoughts he can be very funny and some Edinburgh-specific humour is nicely judged (although it’s somewhat lost on tonight’s predominantly US audience). Dave Hill is an interesting character in need of much stronger material.
Dave Hill: Caveman In A Spaceship, The Stand’s New Town Theatre, until 27 August, 10pm.