‘Alas, Smith and Hume!’ builds on the reputation Simon Evans has carved out in creating his Simon Evans Goes to Market series on Radio 4 – the ambition to take an on-the-surface dull, dry subject (various aspects of financial life) and wring it for all the humour it’s worth, while still keeping a thread of information and interesting tidbits floating through. A brief history of two of the most famous minds of the Scottish Enlightenment isn’t the most obvious fit for the Fringe – it’s very much pro rather than a challenge to the status quo – but Evans is more than up to the task of entertaining with even the most conservative of subjects.

A consummate stand-up for years now and always a joy to watch in full command of a stage, Evans might have missed his calling as a university lecturer. If he had gone down this road instead, his would have been the class that everyone would have wanted to go to, where there would have been no desire to mindlessly scroll or nap. Evans strikes the tone just right, flitting between personal anecdotes, broader historical context, and an examination of the ideas of Hume and Smith, all seamlessly woven amongst clever jokes and some gloriously awful puns. The setting of Panmure House, where Smith lived from 1778 to 1790, really adds to this atmosphere. Mock candles, tastefully painted wooden shutters, and a decanter of wine on the table – it does much to evoke the mood of an 18th Century salon.

It is not the most critical interpretation of the philosophy of either man. Particularly with Smith, there is a broad argument that his views on the economy were successful, correct and led to an overall improvement for humankind, with little room allowed for a witty consideration that for some current generations, Capitalism is no longer the unspoiled golden goose it has long been proclaimed as, and that it might have baked in the capacity to destroy all our ecosystems to boot. But disagreements on viewpoints (depending on your political compass) can in no way take away from the fact that this is an extremely fun and informative way to spend a chunk of the afternoon. Comedy economics is still very much a niche that Evans is exploiting to his full advantage.

‘Alas, Smith and Hume!’ is at Panmure House – The Lecture Room until Sun 25 Aug 2024 at 15:25