Bob Franklin: An Hour's Too Long For Stand-Up (MICF)

When Bob Franklin claims in his own show title that An Hour's Too Long For Stand-Up, the mainstay of Aus deadpan comedy becomes just about the only comic around who raises more questions with such a straightforward statement.

Armed with a number of seemingly nonsensical props, Franklin delivers his trademark, poker-faced style with total ease. Delving into the world of horror stories, banana containment units and rotary phones, Franklin has just a few too many comedic bits on the go at any one time to make the show feel totally comfortable. In fairness, the comedian's foray into the likes of poetry has always been a stroke of underrated genius, but his tone offers little room for audience reaction.

Franklin's latest offering is not just monotone. It is, unfortunately, a little monotonous. He is without a doubt one of the most prolific comedic talents working in the country, but the show drags too often for the goal of being humorously off-putting. The highs in the show are brilliant and under-appreciated in terms of applause and audible laughter, but Franklin has a knack of creating performances that simply don't result in huge belly laughs. Intentional or not, it does become stilted by show's end.

Franklin will always be working, and will always have something new and exciting to offer the comedy world, but perhaps not through his own stand-up. He is more suited to a behind the scenes role, but his brilliance will hopefully by in the public conscience for a while still.

Bob Franklin presents An Hour's Too Long For Stand-Up till 23 Apr at Melbourne Town Hall, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.