You only get one debut show, and Paul Hilleard has decided to devote half of his to pining for an ex-girlfriend, which is a bold choice. And it works, just about.
The hotly-tipped stand-up has an excellent resume, winning the 2024 BBC New Comedy Award, among other accolades, and running a renowned club in Bristol. He’s from Pontypridd originally, and that’s the main thrust here, moving beyond the Rhondda. Moving on is clearly tricky though.
This particular evening starts awkwardly as Hilleard berates two nice-but-noisily-tipsy types and an air of tension then simmers; could he turn again? He’s certainly a mesmerising presence, with the sort of brooding charisma that’s likely to either do brilliant things, or burn out spectacularly. Either way, entertaining.
The show begins with some lovely observational material – think a mining town Mitch Hedberg – but the second half sometimes feels like getting stuck with a moping mate; a group therapy dissection of his dating history.
Grogg, meanwhile, is a Pontypridd shop that makes celebrity figurines, and spawns the show’s high point, as Hilleard performs a genuinely dramatic one-man play about, yes, a tense relationship, replete with Groggy punchline.
Memorable stuff. Dry your eyes, Paul, plenty more shows to go.
Paul Hilleard: Grogg, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 30 Aug, 10.40pm