Stuart Daulman: A Very Good Year (MICF)

There is a peculiar and endearing sense of earnestness to Stuart Daulman, wherein half the fun of his performance comes in trying to figure out how much of his stage persona is an act. A Very Good Year sees the star of ABC cult show Fancy Boy take on a lounge singer-cum-talk show host character, intermingling an incredibly unique comic style with a surprisingly excellent set of crooner's pipes. A couple Sinatra tracks, a jazz cover of Hotline Bling and a closer that gave the show its name, Daulman has a smooth voice that could easily earn him fame elsewhere in the biz.

Admittedly, this show will not be for everyone. Daulman's delivery is an acquired taste that may not be so palatable for those looking for a straightforward stand-up. But considering the 11pm time slot and the underground venue, A Very Good Year is incredibly well formatted for the time and the place. Daulman is in between the classic style of Johnny Carson and the hilariously awkward tone of Neil Hamburger; the perfect transitional point for anyone looking to go from one to the other.

The biggest revelation in A Very Good year is that through the bizarre facade that Daulman puts up, he is one of the most weirdly emotive and heart-tugging comics at the Festival. A brilliant ride that's worth seeing purely on the basis that it's the only show of its kind.

Stuart Daulman presents A Very Good Year, till 22 Apr at Melbourne Town Hall, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.