Eddie Pepitone: Bloodbath

Eddie Pepitone appreciates the absurdity of a 53-year old man crossing the Atlantic just so he can shout at strangers in a basement. Pepitone appreciates the absurdity of a lot of things, including his life and his act, and occasionally stops to ask himself what the hell he's doing.

Pepitone's got that Sam Kinision style of delivery, which says that if they're not laughing then you're not shouting loud enough. But Pepitone likes to break it up, lowering his voice, whispering, occasionally stopping and laughing at himself. Strucurally the show is like jazz, looping and spiralling as Pepitone dives into routines, then stops and questions what the hell he's doing, before swooping straight back into the rant. The callbacks and references are so dizzying it's advisable to take notes.

There are some jaw-achingly hilarious routines, like his failed commercail audition and being heckled by his own subconcious. Maybe the most telling is the one where Pepitone explores his idea for Stand-Up Tragedy clubs. This ultimately is a show about his misery, his uselessness, the fact that he's alone and dying in a godless universe. Takes talent to make that funny; takes genius to make it hilarious. Maybe the best solo stand-up performance you'll see at the Fringe.