Chris Martin's Spot the Difference is an enjoyable and fun hour to be had at this years' Fringe. He finds humour in the middle class tribulations of his life and has the charisma and charm to keep the audience laughing in the stuffy setting of the Gilded Balloon. Drawing on his own personal experiences, he has something of the Jack Whitehall about him and this is never more apparent than when he reads excerpts of his dad's food diary. However, where Whitehall sometimes seems a little shouty, Martin is a more controlled and slick performer.
From playing practical jokes on a squirrel to his bizarre relationship with food and drink, he masterfully flits from being an impressive story teller to more generalised observational comedy. He has an infectious youthful exuberance as he bounds around the stage but where he may wish to sound as though he's wondering out loud about his current malaise, it's very apparent that each joke is carefully crafted and considered. Which though in itself isn't a bad thing, there is a sense that any potential attempt to make his routine seem a bit more off the cuff are unsuccessful.
Martin is not breaking any new ground but for the most part he's an endearing and funny presence. Based on this performance, the hype surrounding Chris Martin appears entirely justified. I implore you all to seek him out now whilst you can still afford a ticket.