Variety is the spice of life, they say, and perhaps this, above all else, is why Akmal Saleh’s self titled Comedy Festival show is such a thorough winner. After an ad for Cronulla with a voice-over by (someone sounding like) Alan Jones, the show begins in earnest with Akmal’s opening monologue. This proves to be the highlight of the show as, on the same screen that displayed the mock-commercial, a pre-recorded Akmal emerges to interrupt and exasperate his live self. This meticulously constructed element (Akmal seems to have the wordplay with himself so carefully rehearsed that the joke takes on a sort of flawlessly ragged hilarity.) is contrasted starkly with the other extreme at the end of the show, where Akmal and sidekick Joel Ozborn pull items they’ve bought at a Brunswick op shop out of a bag and make apparently impromptu jokes about their uselessness (and often furriness).

There is such a yawning divide between the marvellously creative Akmal/Akmal conversation, and the Sydney comic putting a fluffy piece of material over his eyes, standing for a moment, and realising he hasn’t got an adequate line, but both unquestionably work. In between, Joel Ozborn’s 20 minute routine is solid, while Akmal’s thoughts on the Cronulla riots, religion and anything else he happens upon during his time on stage are pretty steadily at the Extremely Funny end of the comedy spectrum.