The Stand is using a new venue this year and a lot of comedians, including David O’Doherty are getting good material from the fact that it is the basement of the Edinburgh Police Association. It is actually quite a good little venue with two rooms called the Stand 3 & 4 and this room has a bar in it. David’s show began with a roadie nailing the pissiest banner to the backdrop that roughly spelt DO’D in masking tape. Then from the darkness right of the audience came David O’ Doherty ’s voice doing the usual ‘comedian introducing themselves‘ thing, that I have always felt was a really strange aspect of stand up. It’s not something that happens at a rock concert or recital. Can’t they even get the sound person or the roadie to do the intro? Anyway, David O’ Doherty ’s intro turned into quite a long routine, part of which was a sort of précis of a show he did about his google nemesis, the Mathematician also called David O’ Doherty .
Dave sets up the atmosphere of a sort of shambolic daggyness that has always been his signature, but the main thing I noticed tonight was how effortlessly commanding and entertaining he was. His stagecraft has improved enormously since I first saw his act. His only hint of insecurity was, after a lot of positive talking up of his show, he suggested that perhaps the audience should ‘lower your expectations’. He is the third of the four comedians I’ve seen so far at the Fringe who have used this exact phrase introing their act. I couldn’t help but wonder if a lot of the comedians at the Fringe become intimidated by all the hype and the hoopla, a little scared that people have travelled there from all over the world and might be disappointed by them. There is no need to worry about David O’ Doherty . His show is a joy and I can’t imagine anyone hating him, it would be like hating a sweet funny puppy.
Fans will know what to expect, wonderfully silly songs, sung with the aid of his little keyboard interspersed with engaging banter and laughs a plenty. Though he described his show as ‘man faffs while lights point’, it was obviously a well planned and structured show that had a few less songs than previous shows I’ve seen, but they were crackers. His main topics were the usual geeky occupations of board games, texting, facing irrational fears and badgers. His final song came across as his wrap up of the year – ‘My beefs of 2008”. A song about things he hated – mostly in the news, but he managed easily to be passionately angry without being bitter or nasty. After the end of his show he popped back to promote his children’s’ show ‘I Can’t Sleep.‘ as well the Aussie performers Simply Fancy. David O’ Doherty is always a sure thing, you can take your friends knowing that you are seeing one of the top class performers of the Fringe and everyone will have a great time.
Visit the Fringe Website for booking details.