Political Animal

With a different line-up each night, the only guarantee with Political Animal is that the coalition government will get a good kicking. With a new administration settling into Westminster it's open season on Cameron and Clegg, with regular compere and political anorak Andy Zaltzman leading the satirical charge.

This particular show has an impressively international line-up featuring Englishman Alun Cochrane, American Lewis Schaffer, Norwegian Dag Sørås and Scotland's very own Danny Bhoy. It presents the chance to see these slick standups move out of their comfort zone, trying their hand at party-political jibes in front of a none-too-sober late-night audience.

The amiable Cochrane is up first, bantering with Zaltzman and happily admitting he has very little political material. He's followed by the acerbic Schaffer who takes delight in alienating the crowd before slowly bringing them round. Sørås then offers some particularly edgy material about war and Obama, with Danny Bhoy providing a barnstorming finish, despite seemingly confusing politics with history.

Comic ringmaster Zaltzman keeps the show moving at a swift pace, whether relaying introductory messages as the audience files in, hosting a half-time interval quiz, or providing pithy intelligent satire between guest acts. He winds-up with one of his best-known routines from previous years, ending the evening on a high.

At fully two hours long this occasionally patchy pic 'n' mix show is a bit of a marathon, but it's a welcome alternative to some of the more base shows Edinburgh has to offer in the wee small hours.