Colin Mars put on a brave face for a disappointing turnout. He had a strong opening, and it seemed as if this could have been an opportunity for an intimate gig with some gentle self mocking. However, doubt soon began to creep in and there was even a cry of pity from the front row, a sure fire atmosphere killer. To his credit he did recover well, thanks largely to some fairly solid if unexceptional material. The content itself was presented as observational vignettes, at times verging on surreal and at others vulgar, on topics ranging from pigeons to masturbation. The most entertaining parts of the show were produced when he got carried away, forgetting his meagre audience, and seemed to grow in confidence. With a suitable crowd he could have been very funny. Yet too often he was noticeably subdued and disheartened, losing his way and stumbling through.
The show has a strong ending, tying the show together neatly, and perhaps because he could tell he was nearly finished, he seemed to enjoy himself more and relax. If he is to progress as a comedian he will have to learn how to play the crowd and turn it to his advantage, after all if life gives you lemons...
