A sincere yet amusing take on the somewhat needy nature of humanity

It’s a quiet Tuesday night at the Fringe and there are only two of us in the stuffy upstairs room at The Counting House. Tough crowd doesn’t even begin to cut it. Thankfully two more stragglers wander in, but not until Henry Ginsberg is half way through his set. Despite the, frankly, terrifying circumstances, the Jewish comic perseveres with confidence and affability.

This is just one of three shows that Ginsberg is fronting at Edinburgh this year, alongside Hyper-Masculine Cookery Show (about food, unsurprisingly) and Late Night Comedy Death Camp (a midnight showcase of comedians from this year’s festival). Cuddle Slut sees him tackling toxic masculinity, loneliness and whether or not it’s possible for individual body parts to be racist. It’s searingly honest and heartfelt. He openly discusses his social anxieties, the late age at which he lost his virginity and the heartbreak he felt over the closest thing he’s had to a relationship.

His delivery is somewhat erratic and a couple of the lines are fumbled, but ultimately this solo show is a charming offering that examines the nature of human frailty and fallibility, with amusing punchlines scattered throughout.

By Danielle Goldstein

Henry Ginsberg: Cuddle Slut runs until Sunday 25 August. 9.15pm. Pay what you can. Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, EH8 9DD. tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/henry-ginsberg-cuddle-slut