| 14 August 2011
David O’Doherty himself admits that the most famous he is, is when he’s performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. He is undoubtedly one of the best-sellers: filling whatever venue he is given and making it quake with laughter. His fans love him and his cape-wearing-keyboard-plodding persona enchants those less familiar with his musical comedy. But, despite the furore he creates, I cannot help but ask if it is rightly deserved and not simply down to his gimmickry and past success.
Maybe we Brits have been watching too many American chat shows and are losing our discernment, but there is something rather disconcerting about people who screech and bellow over what is only moderately funny. And, hate me for it, but I found O’Doherty this year decidedly mediocre. He seems to have found too much comfort in his niche and lost his drive to stretch himself and his material to new heights.
There were glimmers of the great comedian lurking within; indeed his educational shark song with lines like “reef sharks are the only other animal besides humans to celebrate birthdays” and his musings over his annual failure to get healthy are flashes of brilliance. Sadly though these were just flashes. One only hopes that next year’s sell out show will be more consistent and worthy of his reputation.
David O’Doherty Is Looking Up, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-29 August (except 15th), 7.20pm
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