5 Stars for the hilarious Henry Paker!

5 Stars from Spoonfed for Henry Paker's 3D Bugle...There are a couple of reasons why I could opt not to give Henry Paker’s show five stars. Number one being that my most dreaded show occurrence - being named and shamed as a reviewer - happened despite me having long ago given up the practice of having a notepad or any other distinguishing item out during the show. But to be fair, in a gig of about 10-strong people and the getting-to-know you games that always invites, it was pretty likely that was going to be the case. Number two was that, as you may be able to tell from the show title, there wasn’t exactly a clear through-concept, which according to the Fest magazines and the like I’ve been studying for the past few days, is de rigeur for a decent review up here. But you know what, today’s my last day in Edinburgh so I’m throwing caution to the wind – and awarding full marks to an up and coming comedian who made me laugh so hard I actually thought I may be in danger of a seizure.It’s hard to describe exactly what makes Paker so hilarious, because he’s unlike any other act I’ve seen before. Somewhere between Phil Kay-esque irreverent impro and the energetically disdainful observations of my other favourite comedian, Hal Sparks, the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year’s debut solo show takes us on a journey that neither we as an audience nor, I suspect, he, was prepared for. Beginning with typical compere-esque banter with the crowd, Paker is soon off on a completely insane trail of off-the-cuff musings, including an Australian sitcom revolving around the soles of my friend’s shoes, and a funhouse presided over by a disgruntled clown inspired by a book title an audience member shouts out.Paker is at his best when he’s bouncing off the audience, to the point where it starts to feel less like a gig and more like one of those great evenings in with your friends where you all have a couple of bottles of wine and start giggling about everything. But he also has some delightfully whimsical material of his own which he saves till last, including the aforementioned seizure-inducing joke. Out of pure determination that you go see this show for yourself, I won’t spoil it (although, to be frank, I’m not sure I could do any justice to it in a recounting). Let’s just say it involved an out-of-control cop, a strange new instrumental invention and somebody doing very bad things to gingerbread men.Yes, perhaps that does sound like nonsense, but it was the most originally-observed, brilliantly-paced nonsense I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. This year’s most ridiculous bargain at the Fringe, Henry Paker’s 3D Bugle is possibly the most fun you’ll have at Edinburgh this year without the aid of six bottles of Magner’s and a novelty Scotsman’s wig. Catch this man now before you’re paying through the nose for him in London.