On cats

From Live At The Apollo 2011

More Ed Byrne videos

Ed Byrne: Crowd Pleaser
Live Review

Crowd-pleaser is a double-edged sword. For a comedian, that’s pretty much the job description, but it’s not breaking any secrets to admit us critics often use it in a more backhanded way, to suggest an act who’s pressing the audience’s buttons but doesn’t do much creatively.

Well, Ed Bryne’s new offering is definitely a Ronseal show. But does it do what it says in the title with easy, unchallenging, observational shtick? Well, yes, a bit – but there’s also humour here that transcends the comfortable origins of the material.

Much of the show revolves around just three things that he has: a wife, a baby son and a pet cat. This is about as domestic as you can get, yet he manages to see new things in these much-analysed, universal topics. His take on the was his Missus demands household chores be done might not push the envelope, but he finds a nice hook on which to hang it all, while the routine about why we like cats more than people, unpromising as that premise might seem, actually produces a virtuoso routine even non-cat owners will identify with.

Babies are often seen as the creative kiss of death for comedians, and indeed Byrne’s talk of his seven-month-old is all puke, shit and piss – although he focussing on the pressure with which these secretions are emitted, rather than their foul content, so it doesn’t feel as if we’ve heard this particular angle before.

Yes, sometimes he doesn’t try too hard. After all, he gets a laugh by saying ‘Piers Morgan, who’s a cock…’ so why struggle for left-field insight? Some of the vaguely topical pieces about the Coalition government and the Irish attitude to immigration seem a little mundane, and he perhaps oversells a weird encounter with the now-dead Star Trek actor Paul Wingfield.

This comes as part of a section where he flaunts his nerd credentials – nerd as in liking sci-fi and video games, rather than actually understanding science – and there’s a nice flourish to the way he teases fellow geeks in the audience with the pedantry he knows they are feeling.

Talking of which, he applies such finicky principles to a T-shirt he saw a young teenager wearing – the second routine about age-inappropriate clothing he spotted in an airport in as many shows; but just as funny as the first.

Crowd Pleaser doesn’t have the benefit of the same strong, central theme that his last tour Different Class was built around; but it’s founded on robustly solid routines, with enough smart flourishes to avoid the predictable. You will be entertained.

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Back to his best in a great venue (Leeds City Varieties). Very clear, funny material with great audience interaction.

David, September 2011

Ed was our headliner on 'The Big Gig' last night in aid of The Sick Children's Trust. He was brilliant. The audience were so excited to see him and he did not disappoint! He had everyone in absolute stitches.

Heather Brown, October 2010

Brilliant show in nNewcastle this year! Even though people were still coming in 1 hour after the start.

Martin, December 2009

I went to see Ed in Bournemouth and it was a fantastic show. The only thing is Ed was a bit Irish! Ed, over here in England University is called Uni not college. College is for A levels or for those who don't get into Uni!

Tom O\'Brien, November 2009

Saw Different Class in Warwick/Coventry. All i can say is Ed is a very funny man. Good humorous anecdotes and observations. Not quite as good as Macintyre though ;)

Ian, March 2009

Saw his Different Class show last night. It was the best comedy show I've ever seen, had me laughing for the whole of his set. Brilliant!

A, November 2008

Saw Ed at the Riverside in Hammersmith. We really enjoyed his show, easy delivery, engaging material. He seems to have grown into his skin with this one.

Helen, October 2008

Tired observations from a washed up comic who may as well concentrate on the voiceover and corporate gig work... at least people don't pay for the displeasure

Laura, March 2008

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