A comically endearing show, Here Comes Almost follows an ambitious clown attempting to cure their audience of the loneliness epidemic. Almost (Noah Seltzer) carries out a set of rigid protocols to facilitate this, from staring down audience members while naming their attributes in order to make them feel ‘seen’, to fostering connection through shared trauma by stabbing a stuffed monkey several times. Although it’s a deliberate farce, its interactive nature beautifully conjures a momentary sense of community among strangers.

However, the show as a whole could stand to borrow Almost’s rigidity for its own structure. Its dynamic, improvised relationship with the crowd is one of its greatest strengths as well as a clear liability: with a lacklustre audience, the physical comedy stops landing.  By the fifth time Almost does a forward roll and high fives the audience, the bit sours into a painfully tedious affair. This is redeemed by the clown’s childlike persona as he exudes a warmth that is disarmingly sincere and lovable, even when the room isn’t giving much back. There’s something fitting about a clown desperately trying to connect with an unresponsive audience, and with some structural tightening, Almost might just succeed in curing its audience of loneliness. 

Here Comes Almost, Zoo Playground, until 30 August, 9.30pm.