Steve Bujega: Unpronounceable

There's more to Steve Bujega than just a quirky surname, he explains, after spending the first five minutes of Unpronounceable teaching us how to say it (it's "boo-jay-a", FYI). That said, it's still a useful opening gambit, and one that sets the tone for a surprisingly sweet hour of standup.

With his squeak-stroke-mumble and gawky stance, his delivery doesn't make for the most pleasant sensory experience, but the craft beneath the exterior is enough to make you forget the physical awkwardness of what's ensuing on stage. He's nailed self-deprecation convincingly (many a lesser comic deploys it as a cheap sympathy tactic rather than an extension of their persona), and it's easy to root for him in his fight against social ineptitude. That said, he could do with a more original outlet for manifesting his shyness than, "I have no luck with the ladies". Simply being bad at dating isn't a free ticket to endearing yourself to the audience. 

Bujega likes to nestle his punchlines on the cusp of the next anecdote; hidden in the murmurs and "so, anyway..."s are the biggest laughs. Instead of going for the kill at the climax, he drops the throwaway line on the precipice of a different joke. It keeps you on your toes but becomes a little predictable once you start to see the cogs turning. 

Ultimately this show offers a gently funny tale of decisions and their consequences, with enough earnest charm to make up for the lack of polish.