Comedy review: Rhys Darby – This Way To SpaceshipPleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

ONCE you have seen Rhys Darby’s show, prepare to accept no other anthropomorphised impersonation of horses performing dressage moves. His fancy hoofwork is second to none.

RATING: * * *

And don’t get me started on the camp Alsatian. Positively balletic.

Darby, better known as Murray, the hapless manager of comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, is a fluent physical comedian, capable of milking the humour from the most mundane scenarios – looking for a lost wallet, handshake etiquette – with slapstick élan.

Adolescent memories provide much of the material for an amiable hour that might – but probably won’t – start several new dance trends. If any of his recollections are actually true, then Darby has always been a likeable looper.

What has this to do with spaceships? Not much beyond laying all the groundwork – silly moves, silly noises, silly notions – to be reprised in the final space-age scenario, a veritable dumb show of silliness which is thoroughly infectious and feel-good, if about as profound as a puddle.

Until 27 August. Today 8pm.