Another Christmas, another residency for absurdism's secret weapon. This time, however, Boothby Graffoe has rung the changes. His shows have usually been gags with guitar interludes, but now the emphasis is equally on music.
In fact the infectious, folky hue frequently overshadows the lo-fi stories, which often feel chucked together.
The better ruminations are inspired by a recent tour of Denmark, where the signs warning of deer were more prominent than actual deer. This tall, Leonard Rossiter lookalike has a thing about animals. He also riffs wonderfully on the way Scottish sheep seem to be stage-managed to make the views look scenic.
When anthropomorphism creeps into his songs, things really gel. Graffoe has an ear for good melodies and a playful way with couplets.
Baseball-Playing Spider is the bizarre tale of an arachnid athlete who is mugged: "They beat him up and took his wages/they broke his legs, it took them ages."
His output is undeniably inconsequential, as one dismissive critic noted, but beautifully inconsequential.
He also gets superb backing from versatile guitarist Nick Pynn, who has played in recent incarnations of Cockney Rebel. Come up and see them, they'll make you smile.
Until 14 January. Information: 020 8237 1111.
Boothby Graffoe
