Alternative

At the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

More Andrew O'Neill videos

Andrew O’Neill: Alternative
Live Review

Andrew O’Neill may lead an alternative life, as a vegan, transvestite metalhead who prefers squats and hitchhiking to rent and bus fares, but his comedy is hugely accessible.

He’s an assured storyteller, with plenty of winning yarns about life on the road – as well as an exaggerated flight off fancy about his father, a great British ‘spacemanaut’.

His biggest strength, though is his ability to generate the fragmented, bite-sized chunks of absurdism that pepper the show, jolting suddenly out of nowhere. Some of these one-liners turn into running gags, such as his woefully limp trash talk with one front-row punter or his musings on what happens in the Kingdom of the Blind. Others are just standalone snippets from a very active comedy mind. When he needs a euphemistic simile early doors, he reels off a catalogue of maybe two dozen of them, each as inventive and offbeat as the last.

Sometimes he can crunch a whole comic episode into a few short sentences – such as the idea of a Satanist milkman; while in the more anecdotal segments of the show he relaxes into a calm, pleasing rhythm.

There are lulls, though. The sketch about gravy certainly isn’t gravy, being too long and too pointless. And he gets a bit lecturey – out of character from his normal charm – when trying to score political points. A rather cheesy ‘final thought’ also seems more to pander to the idea that a show needs a message rather than emerging from the narrative. Just by existing in his affable and funny way, O’Neill’s making plenty of statements – they don’t need to be ladled on.

But although it’s an inconsistent show, O’Neill is definitely a comic worth watching. Some of those one-liners are among the best in the country – especially a cracking Holocaust gag that, incredibly, is in impeccable taste – and he’s thoroughly charming man. Probably the best vegan, transvestite metalhead ex-squatter on the Fringe.

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Without doubt one of the funniest men I've seen this year. Unashamedly intelligent, likeable yet edgy, and a welcome change. The fact is that very few people can do what he does and get away with it. Technically adept, charming, inventive and laugh out loud funny, this man exudes comedy from his very soul. Do yourself a favour and see the fellow.

Mark, April 2006

Andrew has developed into a fantastic and engaging MC, and a well-known absurdist comedy talent. I have seen him three times in the past eighteen months and your review is definitely outdated.

Simon, April 2006

F**king funny! Engaging, absurdist and fresh, Andrew is bound to go very very far.

Mark, March 2006

Andrew is one of the most exciting and interesting comics I have ever seen. His abstractness is ridiculously hilarious, his songs are beautifully inventive and his politics are bold and brilliantly sharp. I laughed until a little bit of wee came out.

Roanne, March 2006

Absolutely amazing. Mallai 19.08.05 I just did a show with him in Whitstable and initially thought he was a bewildered member of the audience who had wandered back stage. However when he actually started his set I damn near soiled myself. It actually made my face hurt. Your review is naught but wanton toss, shame on you. Sam Kirk 11.05.05

Mallai, August 2005

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