Phill Jupitus: You're Probably Wondering Why I've Asked You Here

T'was a mature and well-behaved crowd packing out The Stand on a muggy Saturday for Phil Jupitus – perhaps too mature and well-behaved for a gig that involved a leopardskin thong and some very dirty jokes about the adult entertainment business.

Jupitus takes on three different characters, all dead and speaking from beyond the grave. The first is a Dutch roadie, the second a Welsh adult film performer/producer, and the third Jupitus himself, stern-faced, wrapped in a black coat. All three answer random questions from the crowd about their lives and deaths.

Parts of it work brilliantly. Jupitus is undeniably funny. He's very quick, very smart, very able to deal with hecklers. He's a massive, hairy, noisy presence, and the crowd, you feel, want to love him. The sticking point is that this show wins or loses on the audience, as each character demands questions from the crowd, and Jupitus's entire set is based on his improvised answers to the questions. So a Dutch roadie answering questions about the pecking order for groupies when a band tours is properly funny – a Dutch roadie being asked about the coalition government not so funny.

It'll be good to see this further into its run, when Jupitus is into his stride and the crowd are sillier (or just drunker). Meantime, go with a bit of imagination and the balls to get involved...