The New Wave

To review a changing bill might seem redundant. You'd be as well to critique the weather that night, or try to photograph a smell. "We ate the last dodo as Halley's Comet passed overhead – you really must try it." 

But such is the quality of this showcase, it's worth flagging up – a reminder of why the Invisible Dot name is so often a kitemark for interesting comedy. Tonight the beautifully understated shamble of David O'Doherty frames four of the most intriguing acts Edinburgh has to offer. He's a perfect fit as compere. No chintz or cheap tricks to whip up applause, just a few keyboard classics and a good old moan.

First up is Jamie Demetriou, something of a revelation at this festival. His twitchy, terrorised choirboy is rendered with perfect wording and desperate whining. Then it's depressingly precocious Ivo Graham, whose tart and elegant story of life as a gauche virgin has something of Simon Amstell about it.

Ellie White, channelling Tom Cruise's odious self-help guru from Magnolia, hits the mark with a condescending lecture that leans just too heavily on the wonky vowels that lurch out of her character's Aussie accent. And for dessert, a bonus appearance from Nick Mohammed as Mr Swallow. He's on typically showstopping form, shrieking and prattling as he pulls off casual miracles of memory and maths. 

It's entirely possible that this was an unusually solid lineup, but on a single showing, this felt like a well-curated display of exceedingly good taste.