Someone should probably write a thesis on our relationships with comedians, because there’s something lovely about watching a crowd who have clearly grown-up with a comic (this is Simon Taylor’s 15th Adelaide Fringe) connecting with fresh material about a new stage in life. 

Taylor’s recently become a father, and there’s a sense that the trials and tribulations of conceiving, birthing and bringing up a baby are novel enough to most of the room to bring the first two-thirds of his show to life. He’s certainly engaging: his experience shows up as relaxed delivery, with enough well-observed detail to bring the people who perhaps don’t see this as such newly minted ground along with him. He clearly adores Adelaide as much as he hates driving: the two combine with lots of lovely detail that have the audience giggling in appreciation. Boomer/millennial jokes don’t feel particularly fresh, but again there’s enough pleasure in the detail and delivery to keep us happy.   

But things falter in the final third, with an overly long anecdote tying back to Taylor’s apprehensions about fatherhood and masculinity that never really catches fire. Heartfelt enough, it doesn’t land the laughs and feels like an awkward attempt at authenticity. Perhaps it catches the crowd by surprise, but it certainly brings down the energy and chuckle-count in the room. Perhaps existing devotees won’t care, but potential new ones may hesitate before signing up as fully fledged fans. 

Simon Taylor: So Good, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, until Sunday 23 March, 9.30pm.