I actually can’t believe that I haven’t written up a Reginald D Hunter show before. I have been gleefully watching him perform since my first ever Fringe where I actually bumped in to him on the balcony at the Perrier Awards.

At that time I had no real idea of what to expect from the festival (it was my first day) and asked, what I now know to be, some really stupid questions. Reg was an absolute gentleman, politely overlooked my naivete and the entire conversation was a pleasure. I saw his show the very next night and haven’t looked back.

Going to see this clown is always an event. He once suggested that he should perform at listening clubs rather than comedy clubs and I can see why. This is a comedy lecture, it’s social commentary on another level and from a very different perspective. Give Reg five minutes on a quiz show and he’s solid, give him an hour in a room and he is spectacular.

Reg walked out on stage in the slow casual manner that has become his trait. Now in his 50’s his flow has become slower and more thoughtful – the grey now visually clarifying the wisdom that he has always had.

What I love about this clown is that he doesn’t perform, he just talks. A couple of times during the performance he told us that he would “get to the show in a minute”. He wants the room casual and engaged.

This years show was all about family, particularly Reg introducing his 17 year old daughter to his family back home, how they would react and how they have reacted to things that he has done in the past. It’s a fascinating set of stories punctuated with powerful punchlines that leave you hurting when they hit.

My mum recently actually asked me if she would like this particular clown as she has heard me talk about him a lot and saw that he was touring near them later in the year. I told her yes definitely but warned her that when Reg gives easily offended members of the audience the opportunity to leave before the final story, she should seriously consider it… But that dad should definitely stay.

That last story delivers THE joke of the fringe – it only didn’t win that odd Dave award because you just cant repeat it! It is a joke that takes a hour of ground work to set the tone for and a style of delivery that only this clown has. It left us in actual tears and I can think of no greater endorsement for a comedy show than that.

Clown Stars: * * * * *

@EICC: Pentland Theatre, Edinburgh

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