WHETHER it be a simple one-liner, or an anecdote that builds and builds, O’Briain’s intelligence shines through in his comedy – which other stand-ups struggle to match.
The fact that no support act was needed, showed off the Irishman’s self-confidence in getting straight in there, and having the audience in the palm of his hand immediately. And boy did they enjoy being there!
Who would have thought that telling the audience that he “didn’t give a (you know what)” about what they really did in their real lives and to ‘just make it up,’ would be met with such rigorous enthusiasm that would eventually lead to a discussion about a Solihull-based shepherd who uses no dogs, and has just three sheep?
As O’Briain turned his attention to topics such as sexy dreams, pregnancy, the three bears, sore nipples, and the world’s worst film line, the maturity of his comedy was there for all to see and, without being delivered at a breakneck speed, he kept the laughter coming and coming.
Sometimes the giggles were short, and sometimes the laughter would last for ages, but throughout, the one thing that stood out was that the entire 1,700-strong crowd which packed out the auditorium were laughing in unison (except for perhaps one bloke four seats to my left, but he quite clearly must have been either asleep, or deaf).
To emphasise just how clever a comedian can be, O’Briain’s finest moment for me – and there were plenty of contenders – was as he touched on the subject of computer games.
A simple subject, but delivered in such a slick and sublime manner, which left me struggling for breath as he epitomised the problems with computer games that everyone could appreciate and understand his pain at the same time.
O’Briain is clearly at the top of his game at the moment, which no-one at Warwick Arts Centre Sunday would be able to disagree with, and I can’t wait for my next opportunity to see him in action.
The man, quite simply, is a genius. Rating: ***** Ben Eccleston.
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