Ori Halevy’s method for getting surefire laughs from a Fringe audience would intimidate less confident comedians.  Asking audience members to select your material based on a range of numbers is a somewhat risky approach to say the least.

However, Halevy pulls it off to great effect, which won’t surprise anyone who’s seen his other shows at the Fringe, including  last year’s double header with Irish comic John O’Keeffe. What could be a disaster, with Halevy floundering in front of a quiet, unwilling crowd, is instead, a springboard which allows him to expound on a number of topics.

From farting in a relationship, to the awkwardness of making Germans laugh, Halevy approaches each choice with confidence, enabling  him to spin his anecdotes into a mixture of personal self-deprecation and wider, more controversial, political humour ( touching on the Holocaust and Nazis). He engages the audience on all topics covered.

The use of audience participation also allows Halevy to mine more laughs. Interacting with individuals and pitting their choices against each other , he creates an overall effect  of managed chaos. This works to Halevy’s advantage and gets the audience on board with this quasi-improv approach. It  also leads to the show feeling unique and unpredictable, with even Halevy himself having no idea what will come next. As a result, any expectations are roundly subverted, in a way that keeps the audience on their toes and the material fresh. Halevy’s rapport with his audience keeps them energised, and engaged with anything and everything  he throws at them.

0 Ambition is an effective showcase of Halevy’s talent as a comedian and  his ability to extemporise  reveals a confident approach that doesn’t leave the show feeling too staged