James Acaster: Represent (MICF)

The feat that British comic James Acaster is undertaking for MICF this year is astounding. Not only is Acaster performing three separate shows from the last three years under the guise of The Trelogy, but he is also alternating between the three each consecutive night. Though his goofball self-awareness may help his cause, it's still a wonder as to how he can stay on top of it all.

Tonight's offering of Represent (2015) follows in typical Acaster fashion. Fully loaded with long form one-liners and non-sequiturs, the comedian runs the audience through a series of odd occurrences that fall well into the dark cavity between fantasy and reality. Talking about the absurd British tradition of Christingles (which is well worth googling, by the way), amateur massages and the "well-known" fable of the sloth and the goose, Acaster has an odd yet impressive ability to tie everything together by show's end. While the concept of redelivering old shows does lead to some dated references, Acaster's left-of-centre style eventually makes up for the confusing pieces on log flumes and the Chilean miners.

It really goes without saying that Acaster's tone and technique are not universal, and the extended pauses in between his material often draw out into monotony and make it hard to find the pace again. Nonetheless, his tale of jury duty (be it truthful or otherwise) is a light thread throughout Represent that somehow, despite its loose interweaving, holds everything together. If this show doesn't appeal, at least he has quantity on his side.

James Acaster presents Represent, part of The Trelogy, till 16 Apr, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.