Review – Hunter Smith: Help Me Hunter

Within the first two minutes of his show Hunter Smith threatens “loads of audience participation”. Have no fear, through, meek comedy connoisseurs. Help Me, Hunter is really just about Hunter. The premise of the show is that of a dating and relationships help line, which give structure and flow to Smith’s collection of tales – mostly of his misdemeanours in the romantic arena.

Smith is a master storyteller, and holds the audience’s attention well. It’s unclear whether he has heard or even written the caller’s messages prior to the show, but given that he provides brief answers to some and long-winded, sometimes unrelated rambles to others, chances are that the performance is largely improvised. It matters not, as Smith’s stories are genuinely entertaining – it’s a bit like going out to dinner with a flamboyant and very engaging, if somewhat self-centred friend. There are times when he relies too heavily on stereotype or gross-out comedy, when in truth his wit and narrative abilities would suffice.