When the phrase “I knew I shouldn’t have had that second wank” is among a show’s opening lines I cannot help but check frantically for the nearest exit. However, I was quickly reassured by the rest of the opening silent film that there was no reason to get so twitchy, and I left ninety minutes later having experienced the most original comedy I have seen in Cambridge.

Written and performed by Dannish Babar, the show makes innovative use of several types of media to keep the audience permanently entertained. The odd endearingly poor feat of psychic magic was just one element of an incredibly diverse piece. His style and delivery is varied but always amusing, using a combination of images, videos and even some scripted audience participation to keep the room on its toes and, most importantly, laughing. For a first performance of a freshly written piece, there were so few failed jokes that they were barely noticeable. Instead the transitions between material were seamlessly smooth, Dannish even managing to cope with the inevitable first night technological hitches so wittily that it was hard to tell whether they were genuine hiccups or just part of the act.

However, it is the accompanying slideshow that really makes the show. The text, images and annotations provide continuous amusement and often have such comic effect that Dannish has to pause, drowned out by laughter for his slides – be sure to position yourself with a good view of the projector screen. Equally original was the musical accompaniment of an electric guitar. Far from being the distraction it had the potential to be, the music and indeed the musician added to some jokes and made others, while providing bridges between the various styles and subject matters.

Dannish eludes the issue that so often blights the Cambridge comedy scene – rather than making the mistake of many a mediocre student comic and offering poor imitations of “that guy off Mock the Week”, he has a personal style and is not afraid to let it out in front of an audience. Here is something completely different from the usual stand-up fare, a comedy which is quirky and unique and easily lives up to its “hilarious” billing. Even if the venue is a bit off the beaten theatre track of the ADC and Corpus Playrooms, it is well worth seeking out the Pembroke New Cellars for such a refreshing piece of comedy.

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