One thing’s for certain about a Jamie Mykaela & Friends show; there’s never a dull moment. After its first performance back in April, the zany variety hour is carving a spot alongside Hot Rats and Live and Peculiar in Oxford’s expanding cabaret crown, thanks in no small part to its fabulous and foul-mouthed host. In the midst of so many Edinburgh previews, it’s nice to have something that feels tangibly on home-turf, right down to the signature Jamie Mykaela cocktail on offer at the Tap Social bar.

There may have been some stumbling blocks tech-wise before takeoff, but once things get going Mykaela and her onstage maestro J Henry prove we’re in capable hands. Sporting cascading extensions, a floral headpiece and Cristal Conners graphic liner, she’s every inch a maven on the mic (‘Lana Del Rewley Road”, as she puts it). Mykaela is Oxford comedy’s hardest working polymath - how many other comics have you seen do a theremin solo with their tongue? - and Henry’s deadpan delivery from behind the keys is a great foil to her mercurial showgirl persona. From their bluesy rendition of Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ to watching each act from the piano stool like proud parents, they’re Botley’s answer to Sonny and Cher.

And what of the ‘& Friends’? As with the show’s first incarnation, there’s nary a dud to be spotted. Sav Sood returns for a delightfully committed and convincing presentation of her application to be a professional Victorian orphan, and her wide-eyed enthusiasm and sincere delivery really sells the bit - probably why she was cast as one so often at school. This is apparently all-new material, and I can’t wait to see it fleshed out; keep your eyes peeled for Little Orphan Sav at a gig near you.

Monica Chatterjee strides forth with some character comedy next, donning a beard and baseball cap to manspread the good word about the power of narcissism as told through the manosphere. Chatterjee has great, swaggery energy and it’s a very fun premise that allows for a lot of audience interaction, but I think this character might need longer to cook to reach his full potential. In his current state, the punchlines feel a little underdeveloped, and some of Chatterjee’s best lines come after the beard’s been taken off, particularly the mid-coital brag that led to this slimeball’s creation (I won’t say anything except, don’t hook up with actors).

Then Ewan Mulligan takes to the stage, dripping clown makeup on their face and a harrowed look in their eye. Moving from a deliciously guttural duet of Early James and Sierra Farrell’s ‘Real Down Lonesome’ to their own act is like watching Tom Waits transform into Vic Reeves right before your eyes. Their - let me find the words here - balletic/modern dance tribute to the filmography of Michael Caine is something to behold, not just for its genuine physical dedication, but for the rug-pull in which a sweating, panting Mulligan reveals they’ve only actually seen three of his movies. The way to my critical heart is, to paraphrase Brian David Gilbert, a lot of energy into things that have very little meaning, and Mulligan nails it in beautifully weird fashion.

Last but not least is our headliner Jack McMinn, who takes us home with the trademark ready wit and deft lyricism that made him a 2025 Musical Comedy Award finalist. McMinn’s squeaky-clean, self-effacing stage presence contrasts brilliantly with his offbeat and surreal subject matter, such as the inscrutable powers of the Magdalen Road Tesco escalator (know your audience), or his twin loves of toy dinosaurs and self-pleasure. One of the few cis straight white dudes on the comedy circuit with something original to say, he’s the Tom Lehrer you can show your nan, and I’m glad to see his star is deservedly on the rise.

I’m willing to admit that this JM&F had a few more of the strings showing than last time, but it feeds into the scrappy camaraderie that typifies this night. Alt comedy is rarely a slick affair, and that’s what’s great about it - build up enough friction and you can set the world on fire. Jamie Mykaela has a wide circle of friends, and if it means more of these gigs, I only hope it gets wider.