Brazen and confident, the trio of stand-up comedians in Bulmers Best of the Edinburgh Fest present a show that is both hilarious and cringe-worthy. Jason Cook opened with some familiar gags – Melbourne vs Adelaide, what Australians think about other nationalities – but his interpretation of these jokes was refreshing. His ability to banter with and engage the entire audience, especially a large one, was remarkable, and something not many comedians are able to pull off successfully.

Next came Elis James, a quiet young man from Wales. James reminded me a lot of Josh Thomas, with his messy hair, lanky frame, strange accent, and anecdotes about him getting into – and out of – awkward situations. His set was a little disjointed, but he maintained the energy that Cook had established. He was a good storyteller, keeping the audience engaged right through to each punch line.

Finally, Carey Marx, the ‘headliner’ of the night, strolled onstage with a beer in hand. As his set progressed, his speech became increasingly slurred, and his vulgarity dispelled the relaxed atmosphere. There was little banter with the audience, and his gags had a distinctly scripted feel to them.

Despite the disappointing finish, Bulmers Best of the Edinburgh Fest is worth seeing. Cook and James are excellent, and if you enjoy crass jokes about sex, alcohol and farts you will love Marx as well. Personally, I would have preferred another thirty minutes of Cook.