COMEDY list.co.uk/comedy
HITLIST THE BEST COMEDY EVENTS
✽ Frankie Boyle More work-in-progress doings as Frank prepares to unleash some
merry hell. The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 16 Oct.
✽ Billy Connolly Still hoppping around the country on his sold-out High Horse, so he is. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Thu 16 Oct; SECC, Glasgow, Sun 19 & Mon 20, Wed 22–Fri 24, Sun 26 & Mon 27, Wed 29–Fri 31 Oct.
✽ Paul Foot Mr Foot daintily steps into our lives with Words and other surrealist shenanigans. Òran Mór, Glasgow, Fri 17 Oct.
Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sun 19 Oct.
✽ David O’Doherty See preview, left. Old ✽ Dylan Moran A comic whose ‘try-out’ gags are way better than most stand-ups’ finest material. The Stand, Edinburgh, Mon 20 Oct; The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 6–Sat 8 Nov.
✽ Jeremy Hardy Thoughtful musings
from the erudite Radio 4 chap. Cottier Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 26 Oct; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 31 Oct.
✽ Lee Mack Energetic and gag-heavy (can you imagine?) entertainment from the Mack
man. See 5 Things, page 61. King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 29 Oct–Sat 1 Nov; Edinburgh Playhouse, Tue 11 & Wed 12 Nov.
✽ Sara Pascoe The rising star who got a spot on the Edinburgh Comedy Award
shortlist in August rewrites history. See preview, page 60. The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 2 Nov.
✽ James Acaster Another Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee ventures north
once more with his further off-kilter tales. See My Comedy Hero, page 62. Òran Mór, Glasgow, Sun 9 Nov.
16 Oct–13 Nov 2014 THE LIST 59
DAVID O’DOHERTY Irish jester embarks on a hunt for genuine happiness
T he story of those who win the Edinburgh Comedy Award doesn’t always play out the same way each and every time. For every Al Murray, Frank Skinner and Steve Coogan who go on to become household names, there are a whole bunch of Tommy Tiernans, Demetri Martins and Daniel Kitsons who will largely bypass the easy avenues of TV fame to simply carry on doing what they do best: writing, performing live and honing their act. Although certainly more aligned to the latter group, David O’Doherty differs in one key area: he comes back every single year to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe, giving full thanks to the place which helped make him a semi-legendary figure within the comedy community (as well as the big, bad, main comedy award, he previously won So You Think You’re Funny).
Now, the man they simply call D’OD is heading way out west with his cables, mics and keyboards for David O’Doherty Has Checked Everything, a show which has fully deserved the title of ‘a critical success’. Just a quick glance at all those four and five-star reviews will tell you that. This self-dubbed ‘forgotten Sugababe’ and ‘bad boy of Zumba’ will be entertaining the Old Fruitmarket patrons with tales of his search for true happiness. That quest has involved a pizza wheel, faster internet connections, a trip to Niagara Falls, a North Face jacket and some loft insulation. So, has he been bestowed with permanent glee? Hop along and find out, why don’t you? (Brian Donaldson)
Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Sun 19 Oct.