Hangover wank

At Dublin Laughter Lounge

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Markus Birdman: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Stand 2

‘Don’t heckle. I’m too old for that now,’ announces Markus Birdman at the top of his show. The bagpiper outside hasn’t heard him, but he soon quietens. But there will be no need to get us to pipe down as Birdman’s flow commands attention.

At 42, Birdman maintains he’s ‘half-dead’, at least mathematically speaking. Mentally and physically speaking, he seems on ebullient form. However, he recently has cause to reflect on his own vulnerability and mortality though when he suffered a stroke.

At first, because of the timing of it, the attack was put down to a hangover, but, when a loss of vision in one eye persisted he went to the opticians and a journey through the NHS began.

Birdman dips in and out of his story to muse on related topics, or to punctuate each step of his medical experiences, – such as intrusive questionnaires – with a joke. Occasionally his jokes are corny, but always pithy. Often he’s too quick for his audience or maybe too sly. A joke about a brain scan looking like a ‘laser bukkake’ almost goes over everyone’s heads.

Explorative surgery reveals more about his condition, clearing up what was a mystery to the doctors and forcing Birdman into a longer hospital stay. Patients around him find god, but Birdman - the son of a vicar who has spent many of his last Edinburgh shows illustrating how not religious he is – does not.

Instead what Birdman finds is six rules for living. They are noted on the tableau behind him, a collection of the former art student’s smart doodles, including depictions of Mexico’s ghoulish Day Of The Dead characters. Oh his set list is on there too, but Birdman is too accomplished a showman to ever let anyone see if he needed prompting.

The tips for living are all quite obvious; love, friends, taking pleasure in the little things and being your best… This hardly matters because their general nature allows free reign on examples, but they are well chosen to illustrate his point rather than feeling shoe-horned in. Quite simply they are born out of first-hand experience and not cliché – just like the rest of the show.

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Excellent performance at Standish Globe Comedy, especially the Jamaican Nazis, jungle goosesteeping, in a big stylee! Nice George Best circa 1972 style haircut and beard as well

Hawkwind Hedgehog, January 2006

Great performance, funny material. Really likeable way about him.

Jason Cairns, December 2005

Absolutely hilarious

Loz, October 2005

We saw Markus last night at Exeter Comedy Club. He was the middle of three acts and we all agreed he was by far the best. Brilliant, we laughed our heads off. Will be remembering his name.

Kelly Barnes, May 2005

Markus Birdman is absolutely brilliant. He made me laugh so hard and so naturally I couldn't stop. His material is good, his stage presence confident - and you know he's amusing himself up there just as much as anyone else. There's something of Andrew Maxwell in him - with his cheeky giggling and glint in his eye, and the manic flying round the stage doing impressions and silly walks. Top act.

Marie, May 2005

To say my sides ached from laughing is an understatement, best comedian I've seen in ages.

Alex Graham, April 2005

Saw him last night, very very funny. Judging by earlier reviews he must have improved with age. Definitely go and see him.

Steve, March 2005

I saw Markus a year ago and thought he was absolute shite. Saw him a few weeks ago with all new material. I was prepared to hate him when he came on, but he absolutely blew me away. He is definitely one of the best acts around at the moment. Go see him! You'll laugh your arse off.

Kevin, February 2005

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