Stuart Goldsmith: Compared to What

Introducing the show, Stuart Goldsmith declares his intention to talk about “trying to be less self-involved”. Given that, his subject matter may seem a little strange: moving house, leaving the city to be with his long-term country-living partner, proposing marriage and having a baby.

It won't set the world on fire, but Goldsmith finds a winning combination of easygoing earnestness, infectious joy in the minutiae of the every day, and genuine determination to discard his youthful irresponsibility and make the best life for his wife and child. Plus, every now and then he “chucks in a daftie”, his own endearing term for shots of surrealism that repeatedly catch you by surprise.

The show drags a little towards the final third, focused on his early experiences as a father. As he himself says, “I know you don't care about my baby”. But most of the time, his sharp wordplay, wry self-effacement and warm charm see him through with flying colours. This section also contains some of his sweetest and most intimate moments. Well aware that a standup comedian—no less one on the Free Fringe—is never going to provide easy financial security for a family, he takes aim at one achievable goal: to make his two-month old baby laugh for the first time.

There's standing room only at the Liquid Rooms, and it's not hard to see why – this will be by far one of the best, most open-hearted hours of standup you can see for free this year.