Words: Caitlin Finnerty

3 Stars

James Trickey’s debut hour is part stand-up, part personal gamble as he leaves behind the world of spreadsheets to see if comedy can offer a better return on investment. Opening with an unexpected burst of krumping to Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction, Trickey sets a playful, unpredictable tone before peeling off his bucket hat and double sunglasses to reveal his “true” self: a chartered accountant, which (he tries to convince us) is a super cool. 

The son of an 88-year-old English father and Cambodian mother, he dubs himself “Anglo-Cambo” and mixes in race-related jokes, though in this largely white audience, some land with polite chuckles rather than full laughs. Where he truly shines is in his quick, confident crowd work, riffing effortlessly off audience reactions and finding unexpected tangents.

The hour covers everything from his dangerous nut allergy (“a Kinder Beano could kill me”) to a borderline obsessive love for tomato paste, a Subway points system hack, and the unlikely wisdom of “every big butt has a deep crack.” There’s even a rap about probability.

Not every punchline lands, but Trickey’s wit, stage presence, and off-the-cuff charm suggest he’s a comic worth keeping an eye on.

James Trickey: Don’t Count On Me 
Cellar, Pleasance Courtyard
21:15
Aug 12-24