Return of a rebel rant

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Thirteen years after Bill Hicks's death, the legend lives on in this intriguing if brilliantly pointless show, which imagines what the Texan comedian would be ranting about today. Time is running out, though. This is advertised as the last chance to see Chas Early's portrayal of the outlaw comic but do not discount a Sinatra-style comeback.

Much of Hicks's original standup stands up. Iraq is still in a mess, a Bush is still in the Oval Office, boy bands are still in the charts. The angel-winged commentator is still obsessed with pornography and admits that had he lived he'd have probably sold his soul to corporate Satan to fund his internet fixation.

After lengthy touring there are some effective new rebel-stance observations. The dead star can ignore health warnings on cigarette packets and - artistically integral - defiantly spark up. He bemoans the fact that his beloved Led Zep will probably be blogging after their reunion gig rather than indulging in a Bacchanalian orgy. And as for the cringe-making Live Earth, "it made me want to commit deforestation."

Early's powerhouse performance, forever smirking or pivoting on his heels, stays just the right side of caricature, making this never less than watchable.

It remains an odd concept, though. Part-tribute act, part satire, it is the kind of idolatry that Hicks hated. Yet for his many devotees it offers a useful focus for some extremely belated hero worship.

Until tomorrow, then 3-6 October. Information: 0870 060 1742. www.slightreturn.info.

Bill Hicks: Slight Return
Arts Theatre
Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB