Masud Milas: Routes

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The routes referred to in the show's title are those of Milas's complex international upbringing. With a mother from Kenya, a father from Peterborough, a childhood in Hong Kong, and a half-family in New Zealand, he's not quite sure where he best fits in. Such a background is a gift for a comedian, and Milas adroitly mines it in order to comically explore ideas of race, identity and family. Much of the set focuses on his domineering mother, a whirlwind of energy whose presence is inescapable in both Milas's life and in this set. He also details his school days, swimming on beaches polluted by power stations and being bullied by classmates because of his colour. This is a highly personal show motivated by the quest to belong.

As such, there are fascinating tales of cultural encounter here. But the show never really manages to comically soar. This is because the narratives don't colaesce into definitive punchlines that might punctuate the story-telling. This is odd, as Milas is a confident and charming performer, with a wealth of stories to draw on. But the structure is not in place, and instead the whole feels rather meandering. There's also little bite to the humour, despite the fact that there's lived politics here which could be more inventively interrogated. Other reviewers have referred to his "chilled out" demeanour and delivery, but here this persona is just too laid-back, resulting in a diverting but underpowered missed opportunity.