David O’Doherty – Grown Up
David O’Doherty was quick to point out that the Council Chambers are a ridiculous place for a comedy gig. And they are, austere, brown, chunky, uncomfortable…in the midst of these surrounds DOD appeared on stage wearing a lime green coat over a bright red shirt with white stripes and a bright yellow tie. Looking every bit the circus clown already, he topped this look off with a white cap on top a mess of brown hair (it’s grown substantially since his last visit). This contrast encapsulated in an instant the duplicitous nature of watching DOD in action. As soon as he begins to speak you want to listen, to take him seriously, because when he speaks he inspires interest. However everything about the way he projects himself insists that you don’t take him seriously at all.
Losing the hat and coat, making him seem a little less clowny at least, DOD launched into the bulk of the material. This show is essentially stand up interspersed with a few songs, performed with the accompaniment of a 1985 Yamaha keyboard. David himself describes what he does as “low key musical whimsy” which is as good a description as any. DOD takes us on a meandering journey covering many topics, leaving the audience wondering if he was saying a lot whilst saying very little, or if he was saying very little whilst saying a lot.
Although David uses music as part of his act it’s hard to regard him as a ‘musical comedian’ per se. To my mind he is a comedian, who uses music. Often when I listen to musical comedy I listen past the music and think, ‘would this material still be funny if it was delivered as pure stand up?’ Mostly the answer is no. DOD however is a stand up purist’s dream, being equally inventive and hilarious with his musical pieces as he is with his stand up, particular standouts being a loving ode to a family dog who hated him and the DOD tirade against global corporations.
A curious feature of the show involved a chair David had on stage. He sat on it sometimes, ignored it others, and then, quite unexpectedly, he was standing on the chair. This behaviour captures the charming childlike aspect of DOD. A fully grown man climbing onto a chair for no particular reason evokes images of the five year old in the supermarket spinning around in circles for no particular reason…just cos…
David’s work is reminiscent of childlike wisdom. Simple, pure and strikingly frank. He is engaging, hilarious and delicious. David O’Doherty is the comedian’s comedian and the punter’s delight.
For bookings go to David O’Doherty – Grown Up