Well. This was another of the shows and comedians for which I had zero context going into this Fringe. Even when I do have context, I’d always prefer to take a chance on a show that might be a swing and a miss than one that plays it safe. So I was looking forward to this, Drew Michael’s first Edinburgh show after much success in the States, about the effect his untreated hearing loss has had on his life. At times, the audience dons headphones, dulling the sound and adding overdubs, with different audio streams, such that you’re not all laughing at the same time, to highlight the alienation one must feel. This is a great premise, and it’s executed on a technical level with great aplomb. But. But but but. It’s, unfortunately, not very funny. Michael flubs the opening, perhaps not quite managing to bridge the gap between an American comic and a British audience, and not building any confidence in himself, which ultimately denies buy-in into the conceit. The jokes just aren’t there, and when they are, they’re underwhelming. Rebilling this as a one man show and de-emphasising the stilted humour could work; so too could adding much more. Despite that, though, I’m still thinking about it. That’s certainly something.