It’s always tough to review a show like Jonah Non Grata; a show that consistently wrongfoots the audience, revelling in awkward moments where things don’t seem to be working. It’s tough because, to some, the lack of laughter is the point, and can perversely lead to the biggest laughs of all. Simon Kane’s surreal anti-comedy piece is loosely about dilemmas and decisions. Or a vengeful man who wants to stay at the Marriott. Or simply the slow unravelling of an entertainer. It’s honestly hard to tell. 

Working in character, Kane has the skill to keep an audience on the edge of discomfort. Once there, he can elicit moments of genuine hilarity, notably when we are treated to a song about a popular video-game character followed by some truly strange audience interaction. However, he largely lacks the charm or energy to keep the show from coming off the rails during some quieter sections. Bringing a choose-your-own-adventure book onstage is a fun idea, but an over-reliance on audience members simply reading passages out without much interaction from Kane, gets old pretty quickly. Fans of anti-comedy will find things to love about Simon Kane’s show, although it is far from a slam dunk. Equally, those without a predilection for cringe should steer well clear.

Jonah Non Grata, Assembly Rooms, until 24 August, 9.10pm.