Comedy

‘What’s funny?’ asks Bo Burnham in the opening song of his Edinburgh Fringe debut. To answer his question, he is, clearly – in fact, he’s probably funnier than most of the twenty-odd thousand performers at this year’s festival. It takes most comedians years to find their voice, establish a style and hone their skills, but at just 19-years-old, this internet sensation proves there are exceptions to that rule. He has talent by the lorry-load, with one-liners worthy of the finest gag-smiths and songs packed full of so many jokes one immediately craves a repeat listen to work out which lines were missed the first time around. The topics themselves can be a little base – sections include ‘Theoretical Dick Jokes’ and ‘If Shakespeare Wrote a Porno’ – but he approaches them with such fierce intelligence and originality that they're never hack or immature. He certainly lives up to the hype – let’s just hope he’ll be back again next year.

'Bo Burnham – Words, Words, Words ' is at the Pleasance Dome at the Edinburgh Fringe, 21.35.

Returning to the Fringe for the first time since 2004, Addy van der Borgh’s 2010 offering feels like classic example of an experienced circuit headliner attempting to put together an Edinburgh show. Advanced Mumbo Jumbo is his premise; exploring those bullshit turns of phrase and general uses of gibberish that are so often used to communicate, influence, or just to be plain polite. The theme allows Mr VDB to slip easily into observational routines that are loosely related to the title. Much-covered topics – estate agents, Facebook, sofa shopping – are all ticked off, and are mostly executed well enough, with character embellishments, impressive harmonica playing and a nicely shot film finale. It’s an adequate hour from a reliable comic, but isn’t in any way exciting and feels more like an extended club set than a solo show.

'Addy van der Borgh – Advanced Mumbo Jumbo' is at The Stand II at the Edinburgh Fringe, 17.20.