If you want an escape from the real world try Glenn Moore. No Trump, no Brexit. Just an hour of exquisitely crafted gags building to a formidably funny finish.
Instead of opting for the Tim Vine school of discrete one-liners, the Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee’s quips are pegged to a narrative about him signing up for a mission to Mars following a break-up. It’s certainly an extreme way of escaping from the world.
Along the way Moore finds the hilarious side of everything from Tube train humiliation to sexual fumbles (“afterwards we exchanged insurance details”). All told with the kind of self-deprecating middle-class delivery that makes Miles Jupp resemble Harry Redknapp.
Of course these are very much first-world white male privilege issues. But his skill at unearthing the humour of any situation is impressive. There is a cumulative effect here too as amusing early remarks are referenced later to generate increasingly spectacular laughs.
This is not a show to change your life. There is a through-line about the importance of truth in comedy but is any of his story true? Does it matter? See for yourself, you’ll probably be too busy chuckling to care.
Until Saturday (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
