Luke Toulson: Luke Who's Talking

It’s a tribute to Luke Toulson’s skill that he’s able to laugh away the adversity presented to him by his venue. He has the stature of a standup who should be entertaining crowds in much bigger rooms, without the sound of an accordion blasting in from next door. But like many who have travelled this road before him, this is the hand he has been dealt and he admirably ploughs on, incorporating the sound of a canon into one of his punchlines with precision timing. Despite these problems, Toulson’s confident voice shines through and the crowd are quickly enamoured.

Much of the material in Luke Who's Talking focuses on some quite humorous but uninspiring stories about his children, which is disappointing considering his obvious potential; a ‘funny child story’ surely lies somewhere near the bottom rung of standup creativity. Some of his more promising work reveals hints of darkness, such as a thoughtful consideration of his personal experiences with sobriety. Although he suggests we shouldn’t always expect a theme from standup, that sometimes this approach can feel forced and doesn't reflect real life, it’s a shame that he resists exploring the truth behind his unsettled nature more. Instead, he ends with a song that contrasts some of his darker material with a verse written by his daughter, but it’s completely throwaway and doesn’t really add much.

Toulson’s delivery and ease on this difficult stage demonstrate considerable talent – with some more challenging material, this will make him an act to watch.