Russell Kane - Gaping Flaws

Russell Kane's show is flawed. But that's exactly what makes it so enjoyable, as we Brits have a tendency to revel in human imperfections and enthusiastically embrace the faulty. So when an improvised Stephen Hawking impression sends the comic spinning off track, he seizes the opportunity to demonstrate his point. “Only in this country would a slip-up like that actually improve the show for most of you,” he quips. “Look at you all, leaning in, watching me sweat. This is what you call entertainment.”

Unlike the Yanks, whose quest for perfection results in plastic surgery and designer babies, we'd rather let faults slide and accept our flabby beer guts. “Two negatives make a positive,” he adds as explanation for this phenomenon, “we bond through our flaws.”

Hip-thrusting his way across the stage, Kane fires out anecdotes and witty asides with machine-gun frequency, his pitch-perfect observations hitting the mark every time. Though he cites his father's “inability to express positive opinions” as the inspiration for the show and family members feature prominently in his anecdotes, the self-professed Penguin Classics reader also relates the typically British love of flaws to our diet, exercise habits and even the media.

Anecdotes are not simply told, but illustrated with hilariously drawn impressions of the characters that inhabit them, and Kane's gloriously charismatic performance exudes energy and spark. Drink a Red Bull before you watch this one or you may well get left behind.