Chris McCausland – Original Review | Review by Steve Bennett

Chris McCausland – Original Review

Note: This review is from 2004

Review by Steve Bennett

Occasionally, you come across the sort of worthy documentary that examines disability in comedy; exploring the stereotypes, pondering how disabled acts present themselves and earnestly discussing how stand-up can help challenge society's attitudes to the handicapped.

With all this weight of responsibility on his shoulders, blind comic Chris McCausland has the right idea - and simply ignores the issue entirely. Aside from an ice-breaker recognising the irony in a blind man doing observational comedy, he just cracks right on with a sterling set, making virtually no further reference to his sight.

It's straightforward stuff - the ridiculousness of Bond villains and the like - but elegantly written and engagingly performed by this likeable, self-effacing Scouser.

It's occasionally sluggish, occasionally familiar (survival tips for shark attacks have become an unlikely stand-up cliche) but McCausland unfailingly demonstrates such a keen comic instinct that it's easy to believe any such gripes are just minor wrinkles on his ceaseless march to comedy success. This lad's certainly got potential.

Review date: 1 Apr 2004
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

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