Review by Steve Bennett

Beware comics who look jolly.

Like the office joker in his loud tie and 'you don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps' sign, Davey has shallow, overexuberant joviality in place of genuine wit.

If anyone doubts Ross Noble's genius for improvising much of his set from audience feedback, they should see Davey.

Dressed in Hawaiian shirt and silly hat, he asked every single one of his admittedly small audience about themselves, yet failed to find the smallest nugget of comedy in what he was told. It served only to kill almost a quarter of his depressingly long hour.

He also insisted on excruciatingly ill-conceived audience participation exercises, whipping up the crowd to a state of embarrassed awkwardness.

The rest of the set was painfully repetitive and uninspired, returning time and time again to gags nobody thought was funny in the first place.

Davey is a circuit regular at the likes of Jongleurs, which suggests he does at least possess some talent. However, none of that is on display in this weak show.

Review date: 1 Jan 2000
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett