David O'Doherty at Edinburgh Fringe Review

Despite his many comedic compatriots, O'Doherty is something of a rarity in stand-up these days

Review by Thomas Kerr | 11 Aug 2007

Whats the time? It's David O'Doherty time, and thank God for that. It may at times seem that the entire Festival might as well be made up of pleasant Irishmen – perhaps the occasional Australian for variety – but have no doubt, this one is worth your money. For despite his many comedic compatriots, O'Doherty is something of a rarity in stand-up these days. Instead of venting his political opinions, or berating the front row of the audience, he is content with peddling his own brand of musical interludes and genial observational comedy which he brands, “very low energy musical whimsy.”

When not treating the audience to his hilariously deadpan musical ditties, O'Doherty meanders through a set which touches on a clutch of uniformly bizarre topics – from his fascination with the pregnancy of the great white shark, through his Guildford Four family confession, to complex philosophical quandaries (although you might just be disappointed with the answers). Amongst these, O'Doherty answers the question which has dogged his profession for generations: what are the funniest things in the world? If, like O'Doherty, you agree these include people falling over and making computers say rude words, then he's the comedian for you. Now in his seventh year at the Festival, O'Doherty continues to prove that comedy doesn't have to be nasty.