Comedy review: Nath Valvo '“ Not In This House

Edinburgh Festival Fringe: On the face of it Nath Valvo is a crowd pleasing young Australian comic with some brilliantly funny material about families.

Assembly George Square Studios (Venue 17)

****

This is his second visit to Edinburgh and, after being nominated for the Comedy Awards last year, he has grown massively in stage confidence.

His recreation of suburban Australia is a delight and, while there is the odd word and concept that doesn’t translate, his descriptions of family life draw roars of recognition from the crowd.

His affectionate and sharp impressions of his mother, enjoying a new giddy sense of confidence in middle age are hilarious. And his descriptions of family holidays have members of the audience nudging each other with delight.

On the face of it Valvo is easy to watch, relatable and very funny. But there is a fierce intelligence at work here. And for all gay comics in Australia, there is a notion of being under threat.

Valvo is as gay as they come, and is super happy with his handsome doctor boyfriend.

He is lucky to have a supportive Italian family, who have never had an issue with his sexuality. Australia, however, is currently in the middle of a savage debate about gay marriage – which is underming the rights of all gay people to a normal life. In the light of this, Valvo’s shiny, silly gay normality is a political act.

He doesn’t talk much about the marriage equality debate. but it is there in the background, colouring his thoughts on how he fits into his lively Italian family and influencing his ideas about whether he wants children of his own. He has a brilliant story about being forced to buy an expensive baby monitor for his brother. Why should he pay for other people’s milestones in life when he is not sure he will be able to enjoy his own.

Until 27 August. Tomorrow 9pm.