A rambunctious and lively audience inhabited the Comedy Club on a wet and wintry Wednesday night, eager for laughs and the amber ale to warm the cockles. Thankfully, the Edinburgh Festa Besta delivered on both counts’but the question remains: how does one VB + one Cascade Premium = $14? I’m still reeling.

That aside, the ebullient MC Dave Williams kicked off proceedings with tales of tram rides and a vast array of penis or penis related jokes. Nothing ground breaking; but knob jokes tend to garner the biggest laughs when the delivery is impeccable, which it was. There was a fantastic atmosphere, in part, aided by Williams’ easygoing nature.

Next up was the rough and ready support act. He was in your face, sneering and arrogant, with a heavy dose of unchecked aggression – he was, undoubtedly, the standout performer of the night. However, there was one major problem: he was on stage for all of five minutes. It was disappointing as he was refreshingly uncompromising in his humour’and he looked like a Mafioso. Some people have all the luck!

However, the next performer was much weaker on material. It did seem that he was rather inebriated, muttering inane comments, which were funny but by no means original. He seemed to accept that a few jokes weren’t having the desired effect. Luckily, Pommy Johnson brought his British bag o’ tricks’and comic order was restored. Edinburgh Festa Besta was more hit than miss and an enjoyable night out.