Delightfully sensitive soul

Hal Cruttenden: To Hal And Back

A Perrier Best Newcomer nominee of 2002, Hal Cruttenden comes to Soho with his 2003 Fringe show about the daily struggles of being a sensitive soul.

A hatred of mice, a fear of crime and proof that he's not gay, just a bit of a mincer, all become part of Cruttenden's effort to demonstrate that here is a show where you needn't be afraid to sit in the front row.

Benefiting from an acting talent that has brought him good roles on TV and film, not to mention a more than passable Tony Blair impression, he has the audience roaring with laughter at his take on the terrifying state of the world and how a middle-class Englishman with pest-phobia picks his way through the macho landscape.

His cosy wit and general cuddliness belie a strong comic intuition and guarantee an hour of comedy that can't fail to delight.

This is a guy with a big heart, if not a strong one, and a willingness to wear his insecurities on his sleeve (though he seems much more comfortable on stage than he would have us believe).

With charm and humour in large doses, Cruttenden is a comic you want to take home for tea and biscuits.

Tonight, Soho Theatre And Writers Centre, 21 Dean Street W1, 7.45pm, £10, £8 concs. Tel: 020 7478 0100. www.sohotheatre.com Tube: Tottenham Court Road

Hal Cruttenden