EDINBURGH 2016 - BWW Reviews: ALEX LOVE - HOW TO WIN A PUB QUIZ, The Stand 5, 9 August

Pub quizzes - that delightful hallmark of British drinking culture and the ruin of many a friendship - perhaps so popular because they appeal to our desperate need to be celebrated for being a know-it-all? It is this form of entertainment that has inspired Alex Love's show at The Stand this year. Part stand-up, part quiz show, How to Win a Pub Quiz is an hour of trivia and laughs.

Despite its title, the show does not focus on the strategies behind supreme dominance of your local's Tuesday night quiz. After opening with some obscure facts, reminiscent of QI, that could be useful in a quiz situation, Love uses the common pub quiz topics of music and film as jumping-off points for autobiographical segments. The comedy is quite hit and miss here, particularly when Love gets Audience members to act out a script inspired by his romantic woes as a university fresher. It's similar to a routine Stephen Merchant has done with a GCSE Drama script from his schooldays, but unfortunately not as successful.

The second half of the show is a live quiz for the audience to take part in, complete with callbacks to what the audience has learned earlier in the show, so do make sure you are paying attention! The comedy is at its strongest when Love uses the quiz show device as an opportunity to riff on the audience's answers, subverting expectations. While Love engages well with his audience, he does not always come across as a comfortable performer, with frequent linguistic filler particularly prominent in his transitions.

Overall, the format shows a number of good ideas and there are laughs to be had. The idea of merging a pub quiz with a comedy gig is a good one, and guaranteed to get an audience actively engaged. There is potential here, but it needs more refinement before it can truly be considered a masterminded show. If you fancy an intellectual workout during the Fringe however, check it out - there's the added bonus of an early enough start time that you'll be back home for your favourite daytime TV quiz of choice!

Alex Love - How to Win a Pub Quiz is at The Stand 5 until August 14 at 12pm.