Opening the show with some very impressive and fast-paced wordplay, Matt Rudge sets the bar high and despite occasional lulls in energy, manages to be consistently funny throughout. The show is built around a letter he wrote to his future self and what follows is a deeply personal journey from his impractical childhood dreams - his rap group, his desire to join the army or become an action hero - up to the present, through a particularly rough year.Rudge is able to mine considerable comedy from really quite tragic and unpleasant events, remaining upbeat and, more importantly, funny throughout. He achieves the kind of genuine, moving sincerity that many comedians strive for and can’t quite reach, whilst also pulling off a convincing on-stage breakdown that does not alienate the audience, another stumbling block for many aspiring comedians. Though some of his material is extremely well-trodden ground – his uselessness with electronics and coming out to his father as middle-class being the more obvious examples – he delivers it competently enough to give it shine and glimmer. He is also unafraid of more risqué humour without falling into the trap of bringing up taboo subjects merely for comic effect.Matt Rudge is an immensely talented comedian and the show is charming and sincere while still remaining irreverent and funny, and as such is to be recommended.
