Review of Dara O`Briain: Live At The Theatre Royal

Introduction

Dara Ó Briain is one of those comedians who you`ve seen on TV quite a bit but don`t know much about (unless obviously you`re pretty switched on in the Standup World). Dara currently hosts the TV show Mock The Week which I`ve seen probably only once and deemed it to be a bad imitator of Have I Got News For You, which co-incidentally I stopped watching shortly after its peak with the Boris episode.

The problem with this type of TV programme, which Ó Briain hosts, is that you never see the real comedian, just glimpses hidden behind the scripted `anarchy`. Here`s a chance to see him do what he clearly does best, although it probably doesn`t pay as well…

Video

Not much happening picture wise, it`s fair to say. A few close-ups of a few of the audience but then it`s just a variety of close and long shots on the comic from either front or behind. Not sure what else is required though, it`s stand-up…

Audio

Nothing earth-shattering, but then it ain`t required…

Features

Live At The Apollo - half hour routine from an appearance on the Jack Dee show. Nice added bonus and no repetition either.

Ed & Dara`s In-Vision Commentary and Drinking Game - half hour of semi-drunken discussion and laughter from Ó Briain and fellow comic Ed Byrne. Quite funny and surprisingly analytical.

Milky Bar Kid Interview - 5 minute interview with John, Milky Bar kid from 1974 to 1978. There is a reason this is here, but you need to watch the main feature…

Conclusion

It`s coming up to Christmas so that means a rash of CD compilation and comedy DVD releases. Easy stocking fillers for people who think "Ah yes, Si`s seen Mock The Week listed in the TV guide so he`s bound to like this". Oddly enough I did, but that isn`t the point. I have this odd thing about comedy DVDs or video`s. I can only seem to watch them once before I get bored with them. Why? Who knows? There are films that I can watch until the cows come home and CDs that I can play to death every day for 2 months. Stand-up? Just once please and then it goes into the obscure bookshelf of dusty death.

I did like this, I found Ó Briain`s routine to be far more inclusive of his audience than previous comics I`ve seen and his routine was funny without seeming to stutter or make me groan. Some of the subject matter was very good and at least on some occasions he leapt between unrelated subjects without contriving a pathetic link that is the hallmark of some comics. Still, a full routine is only a series of smaller jokes/stories so I shouldn`t be too harsh on any comic really, I`m sure I would stink as a comic as I`m notoriously bad at repeating jokes (and that really is `the way I tell `em`).

So in summary. Good funny show. Watched it once. That`s it.