These jokes hit hard. They’re the unexpected pip in the prune, the prickle in the rosebush, the punchline that punches you in the belly and leaves you gasping for air. You laugh and then you find yourself questioning why. Which is what makes this show such good comedy.

Completely unapologetic, offensive, divisive, at times extremely uncomfortable, but always thought provoking – the perfect FRINGE WORLD show. Some of it is pretty dark stuff indeed, but Shafar’s style is to shine enough light in his delivery to make even the most objectionable of propositions somehow seem light and amusing.

And he’s an equal opportunity comedian – everyone is a target in equal measure, with his subjects ranging from homophobia and racism to abortion and disabilities. And sharks! There were times through the show, though, where he struggled to hold the audience and there were a number of occasions where he seemed to try too hard to please everyone by trying too hard to ramp up the energy rather than simply letting the show just flow.

This kind of comedy is a tricky experience, for both the performer and the audience, as there is a constant shift in balance between pitch black and comic relief. Without the humour, this would be a pretty unpleasant litany of repulsive behaviours, and to keep it enjoyable and entertaining, is a pretty tough challenge.

Overall, Michael Shafar was up for it but there several times when this difficult task wasn’t accomplished completely. A fractured mirror that openly displays us in all our twisted humanness, his show is not for the easily offended, but if you’re willing to cross a few lines of impropriety, this show is definitely worth checking out as it has that peculiar quality of powerful humour where the subject matter sits with you long after the performance is over. Provocative.