Like every Goth I’ve ever met Andrew O’Neill claims not to be one, despite dressing like one and sharing an interest in the Occult and dark/metal music. Other traits he shares with the Goths I’ve met are that he is highly intelligent, passionate about his interests, fairly nerdy and utterly charming. Maybe I’ve just been lucky. Andrew O’Neill is not only these things; he is also a very skilled comedian who kept the laughs coming throughout his enchanting hour so that the time with him flew by.
Comedians are often the outsiders of society; they can find humour by seeing things from a different angle and being funny can also be a survival technique. Andrew tells us several tales of using humour to rebuff abusers. Mostly though, he shares his passions with us, starting with a detailed and amusing outline of the Heavy Metal music scene and how he began as a perfectly safe atheist who was seduced by the music into the Occult and Satanism. Yes, Satanism. Maybe all those religious fundamentalists are right about the dangers of Heavy Metal music! I’ve experienced many comedians talk about their religious beliefs or lack thereof, but I must say this is the first time I’ve come across a Satanist and such a disarming, sweet and cuddly one too.
The other thing that sets him apart is that he is a transvestite, though it’s a bit hard to tell in gothy attire. He says I’m not a Goth, I’m just a transvestite metal head. He doesn’t go on about it, apart from assuring us he’s straight, maybe he’s concerned Eddie Izzard has covered it or maybe he’s just more interested in magic. Andrew makes the extraordinary concepts in this show very accessible to a wide audience and lots of fun. He never gets a too wrapped up in expounding his unconventional interests to find humour and to veer off into unexpected places, breaking the show up with whimsical poems, silly songs and some delightfully looney lists. Andrew put on a spellbinding stand up show that I would recommend to anyone who shares his interests or anyone with an open mind.
Andrew O’Neill – Occult Comedian runs until April 18th. Visit the comedy festival website for bookings and further details.