Finalist in the 2008 Laughing Horse new act competition

Paul McCaffrey: Saying Something Stupid
Live Review

With a checked shirt underneath a V-neck jumper, Paul McCaffrey looks a bit like a cast member in This Is England '86. Not unlike the characters in Shane Meadows' drama, McCaffrey is genuine, down-to-earth and sometimes lacks direction.

He is hotly tipped, with his poster awash with stars and CV full of accolades – although there are so many awards and so many, often dubious, publications that review comedy, it would be quite an achievement to find a Fringe comic who isn’t.

His is a curious hour, formed of some fairly bland anecdotes randomly interwoven with general observations – for example a routine on the TV show Flog It that seems to come out of nowhere after a story about a house party.

While the structure is skewed, McCaffrey's register takes a while to settle too. The initial banter is pleasant enough, with a nice take on Edinburgh's varied street characters including tramps and drugged-up young men mistaken for a street theatre, but it sounds as if McCaffrey is giving a presentation rather than performing a stand-up set.

He loosens up but it's amusing that the past occupations that he professes not to have enjoyed –  training to be an actor and working in telesales – are both areas his delivery is better suited to. This is not to say that there isn't something here, it's just without the material to back him up, it is impossible to see his talents clearly.

If, as a comic, you are relying on anecdotes with no real peril or no punchline you're clearly in for a rough ride. His adventures include playing opposite a female lead who was too tall for him but hilarity did not ensue as his pay-off was weak. He worked at Thorpe Park and got into a bit of a scrape on a boat, but this tepid yarn is just a long set-up for a joke about a swan. Worse still is the tale of how he foxed his call centre boss by buying two muffins. OK, I am paraphrasing, of course, but doing so from premises thinner than a size zero supermodel.

The audience prove to be a spot-on laugh-o-meter throughout, not often animated but retaining enough confidence in him to give credit where credit is due, particularly for the closing anecdote about his job in a pub in London, easily his most absorbing.

Incidentally, McCaffrey is not a fan of London even though he now lives there. They way he dismisses it though would insult even the most ambivalent Londoner baulk. Rarely have I been so turned off by such a blatant bout of town or city bashing. He can add awareness of this to the various notes-to-self he ought to make.

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A brilliant act who never fails to reduce me to hysterics every time I see him.

James Mullinger, November 2011

I saw Paul at the After Hours Comedy show a couple of days ago at the Edinburgh Fringe. I thought his shortened set included some witty and cheeky observations on human behaviour and found it highly entertaining. So much so that I've made an effort to look up other shows he may be doing in the near future on the internet. Paul, please do a comedy show in London so I can come and watch!!

Vicky, August 2011

Saw this guy at the Edinburgh fringe, he should be avoided like the plague, he threw the dummy when he got heckled and left the stage, came back on but really should have stayed off, if anyone thinks using the word twat in comedy is funny then he's your man, otherwise avoid.

david ivey, August 2011

Paul is simply quality. go see him now. you won't be disappointed.

Leigh, December 2010

Very enjoyable, he's got some great tales amd excellant delivery.

James M, October 2010

He's not 'made' it yet, and already appears tired. Time to refresh your set matey.

David Morrison, August 2010

Really excellent. If comedy is all about timing, then he is destined for great things. Agree with some of the other comments that the material could be stronger, but delivery and stage presence are superb!

Ken Russell, December 2009

An excellent up and coming comic. Original gags, smooth delivery, great stage presence. Well worth going to see

The Reviewer, November 2009

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