One of the most charismatic comedians of the Festival, Toulson is a master when it comes to interacting with his audience – and he clearly knows it. He starts by welcoming the spectators to the “only venue in the Pleasance not to be cleared by Health and Safety regulations” before throwing himself in a show where he does not hesitate to use self-deprecation, but never forgets to include the audience and tease them when necessary. He pokes jokes both at a fellow reviewer sitting on the first row, and at friends and comedians in the room, but do not let this incites you to sit in a dark, remote corner since Toulson will also make sure he never makes anyone uneasy or take the joke too far. Incredibly comfortable on stage, his act unfortunately relies a bit too much on this talented interaction and ease, and sometimes lacks real content to back up his only real storyline. But that might be the charm of his show and exactly what the audience is after, eager to hear more anecdotes about his life as an imperfect but adoring father, why his impression of Hugh Grant sounds more like Tony Blair, or how his life as a London-based single parent differs from a Richard Curtis movie.
The audience leaves with the feeling they’ve heard some of the jokes the year before, and that the show could be more tightly worked on, but satisfied after an hour of pretty constant laughs and entertainment.
4/5 
Martin Miller
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