On a first national tour after living in the UK for a decade, Russell Hicks maintains that this country has ground down his natural American optimism. Which is not entirely accurate. Established as perhaps the stand-up circuit’s pre-eminent improviser of his generation, an exceptionally narrow field to excel in, the boyish 41-year-old remains impressively open and recklessly generous in the dialogues he sets running with the crowd, tenderly tickling egos and teasing out conversations when a conventional comic might choose to slam or simply ignore some of the less inspiring contributors.

True, his pre-prepared material does tend towards offering thanks that he’s no longer in such-and-such godforsaken British town, casting his observational pearls before unappreciative swine. Or in Trump’s America, where his Republican-inclined family vote against their own interests. But his affection for the UK is evidenced by the chirpy southern English alter ego he carries around in his head and often whimsically breaks into, consoling and entertaining himself if not his loved ones.

Hicks’ daring, relying so heavily on ad-libbing and forging spur-of-the-moment connections, is admirable. And when he truly gets some momentum going, it’s like a series of escalating conjuring tricks, his mind and mouth moving with smooth, quicksilver speed. For whatever reason though, Happy To Be Here never really caught fire tonight for any extended period. Sometimes hilarious, never less than amusing, but Hicks seemed like he was on the back foot and wasn’t really feeling it, making for an inconsistent hour.

Russell Hicks: Happy To Be Here tours until Friday 25 April; reviewed at The Stand, Glasgow, as part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival.