Strange days when an hour of topical comedy represents a daring break from the norm. Fringe regular Andy Parsons is a stand-up who deals neither in droll observations, nerdish obsession or flights of wacky fancy, but with current affairs. I felt respected - at last, a comedian who assumes his audience reads newspapers.
Which is not to say Parsons is dry. The topical shtick frequently digresses: there's a brilliant joke about the overlap between acupuncture and voodoo. And his persona is essentially laughable: bullet-headed and buzzsaw-vowelled, he delivers every line in the tones of an exasperated klaxon. But this is a klaxon sounding ruthless common sense. Parsons' eye is unerring for the inherent ridiculousness in what we accept as the norm in public life. Is Edinburgh to London by rail really worth £83? Because, unlike in France: "The only way you can imagine a British train flashing through the countryside is if it's come off its fucking rails." (Fine use of swearing here, to turn the screw on Parsons' most deserving targets.)
Parsons could vary his style of delivery. And, while his flitting between subjects keeps the quip-count high, he could afford sometimes to linger. But it's a tonic to hear very funny, plain-spoken jokes celebrating the fact that we live public as well as personal lives.
· Until August 24. Box office: 0131-226 2428.
