DEPLETED and ready to drop, comedian Dave Gorman cut the figure of a man who had left every ounce of vigour on stage on a brisk November evening at Shanklin Theatre.

Slumping into a plastic chair in a corner of the grand auditorium, the raconteur had concluded a seemingly ceaseless session of book signings and selfie posing, alongside a throng of enthusiastic admirers.

The weariness was justifiable, coming as it did after enduring a show and signing session more than three hours in duration, the current leg of a fitful tour, first performed last autumn.

With Great PowerPoint Comes Great ResponsibilityPoint is the latest supplement to a comedic catalogue that has spanned for nearly 30 years, Dave’s live appearances having evolved from straight stand-up into slideshow enveloped presentation, featuring anecdotes chock full of creative license.

The show commenced with a tempo-setting spurt from the Salford-born humourist as he explained the principles of providing a noteworthy introduction.

Comedian, Brian Conley, was his early focus, with celebrities such as Anita Dobson and Joe Swash also featuring during a riotous opening gambit.

Gorman’s support act was Nick Doody, a Yorkshire-based comedian better known for his behind-the-scenes contributions to panel shows, such as 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Most impressive in his 40-minute set were a series of songs, for which he demonstrated his expertise on the piano.

A hint at an unnatural tendency towards Batman, during a symphonic salutation to the superhero, was the highlight of a set which blew hot and cold.

In the second half, the mood in the room shifted as a series of slides, clips and painstakingly woven peeks behind the ‘fourth wall’, allowed the audience to become immersed in a 95-minute sensory experience which flexed between topics such as family narrative, pop culture and the art of trolling.

So much was crammed into each articulation that areas of the show relied too heavily upon lagging pay-offs, which missed the mark on occasions.

Generally, Gorman is a seasoned comedian, adept at skilfully weaving ostensibly monotonous fabric into refined denouement.

Among the highlights of the show were his ‘found’ poems, where the comic transformed stand-out social media comments into hilarious poesy, accompanied by Handel’s Sarabande.

The comedian’s magnum opus though was undoubtedly a giraffe joke that built from inconsequential rambling towards its clamorous climax, receiving a thunderous ovation which delayed the show’s end by several minutes.

The joke — which he claims took 22 years to perfect — will be recalled as a seminal moment in Gorman’s career.

It alone provides a reason to go and see his show.

Although not without glitches, the show was a demanding, yet thoroughly enjoyable affair.