Service Please, The Space at Surgeons Hall.Oh to be a writer! When that’s your life’s ambition, nothing will stop you from succeeding, even if it takes the rest of your life to get there. Constance’s plan is to write her fantasy novel about Amara and the Dragons whilst she’s making her rent money by working part-time in the local restaurant. Everyone else does it, so why can’t she? Sometimes, however, real life has a habit of not only getting in the way but completely dominating your every waking hour. Constance Peel’s entertaining monologue explores how the world of work became just too onerous for her to manage to do anything else, in a formidable account of hard work, harassment, mismanagement, and bad decisions. A likeable persona on stage, the storytelling occasionally gets a little confused as it is sometimes hard to delineate between the characters she talks about. But there’s plenty to recognise here if you’ve either ever tried to write a novel or have ever worked in the hospitality industry! 3 stars.

The Essence of Audrey, Pleasance Courtyard.Everyone knows that iconic image of Audrey Hepburn , glamorously affecting a cigarette holder for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but how much do we really know of Audrey Hepburn the woman? I realised I knew very little of her as I watched Helen Anker’s entrancing portrayal of Hepburn, telling her life story to a group of potential purchasers for her costumes being auctioned to raise funds for UNICEF. Hearing her memories of the films and shows, the lucky breaks, the heartaches and her eventual contentment, simply looking after the family, it made me want to revisit her back catalogue and see those films of hers that I’ve never seen. The show does play with timelines somewhat as her clothes were auctioned in 2006 and 2017, but she died in 1993, so this conversation she has with the audience could never have happened. Nevertheless, it’s truly convincing, beautifully performed, totally engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable. 4 stars.

Paul Campbell: The Lost Tapes of Somerfield, Hoots @ Potterow.Do you ever receive those online opinion polls that ask you about your feelings towards certain brands? Do you trust X bank, or do you value Y fizzy drink’s social media? Paul Campbell’s show is an outright love letter to the memory of Somerfield, that modest supermarket chain that went to the big shopping mall in the sky in 2011. We see his most prized Somerfield ephemera, we hear about his friendship with Somerfield Sue, we even get to envisage the delicious Somerfield Gala Pie. These are the stuff that dreams are made on. Despite Paul Campbell’s rambling and ramshackle delivery, there’s no denying his fondness for his material. Sophisticated comedy this is not; but you may find his eccentricity touches a nerve of nostalgia somewhere deep inside. 2 stars.

Burt Williamson: 104kg of Pure Banter, PBH at the Voodoo Rooms.Normally one would be able to sue one’s employer if one sustained a physical injury at work. However, Burt Williamson’s chronic pain due to a slipped disc resulted from his not sitting properly in the car driving to and from gigs – so there’s no lucrative payout to be exploited there. The poor chap has always suffered with his weight, unlike his girlfriend’s cat, who has had a fantastic time getting as plump as it has. Such are the little insights we gain into his life in 104kg of Pure Banter, a very funny rundown of living in a dull market town, spotting racists in the wild, and discovering his gift for having the perfect MRI scan. Burt has an easy-going relaxed style but there’s often a sting in the tail to his narratives, and his material is fresh and full of surprises. A very enjoyable and indeed enlightening hour of comedy. 3 stars.

Aaron Wood: More To Life, Hoots @ The Apex.Within seconds of appearing on stage Aaron Wood is clear about one thing – that’s that he wants us to enjoy our time to the full. His determination that the audience will have fun is so infectious that you’re never in doubt that you’re in for a great time. From hilarious stories about trying to catch a burglar naked (that’s Aaron naked, not the burglar) to shared ideas of therapy, an unexpected communication from his missing dad, and a most inventive and cleverly set up call back, there’s not a moment in this show that isn’t a true delight. He even includes some perfectly chosen audience reviews. Incredible crowd work, and a really warm and welcoming presence. Absolutely loved this, and Aaron Wood is definitely a name to look out for in the future. 4 stars.

4’s a Crowd, The Space at Surgeons Hall.The apocalypse comes to Edinburgh early in the form of the Fiascoholics’ 4’s A Crowd, a frenetic futuristic comedy set in a bunker, with five wannabe bunkerees hiding for safety, but only food enough for four. With a nod to the old parlour game, the hot air balloon game, where you have to decide who is the least worthy candidate to survive, one of them has got to go – to certain death, obvs. It’s a nice idea but the execution is too hysterical, with manic over-the-top performances from some of the cast members that drown out any possibility of deriving any pleasure from the script or story development. Not that we missed much, I suspect, given the running jokes about toilet noises and poo smells; haven’t we matured just a little to move on from that level? It certainly split our audience, with hoots of delight from some quarters, and stony silence from others. You pays your money and you takes your choice. 1 star.

Alex Kitson: This Is Water, Hoots @ Potterow.Alex Kitson takes a number of themes – the British class system, old people, the lies we tell, and many more – and weaves them loosely into his narrative, This is Water, inspired by his favourite joke of the moment, about how perplexed fish can be with their environment. A naturally funny and likeable guy, he has a slightly “young fogey” vibe to him, with his gently dithery delivery style, which can work both with him and against him in getting his material across. He does have some terrific comic observations; why James Bond is a useless spy, the concept of city types paying £90 for a farm experience day, and the “shame” felt by the Olympic pole vaulter who didn’t clear the height because his d*ck got in the way. There were a few technical glitches in the production which both he, and the audience, managed to sail through relatively unscathed. 3 stars.