2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Andrew O'Neill review
Assembly's new home at George Square has proved incredibly popular, even in these early days of the Fringe, with very long queues just to go in the Beer Garden. However the combination of a lively festival atmosphere and wooden temporary venues make for a hideous place to perform comedy. Acoustically terrible and atmospherically carnage, this new venue does offer a good drinking ambiance but little else.
It's even more difficult for Andrew O'Neill, who is not a mainstream act. O'Neill does a commendable job of staying in control in these very challenging conditions, coping with unruly audience members clearly expecting a chat, along with walkouts from some audience members who found themselves there by mistake. O'Neill dominates the stage well with his strong presence and engaging character, demanding your attention to this powerhouse of energy.
Scattered liberally are O'Neill's fantastic abstract flights of fantasy, offering a feast of different ideas. Never short of a brilliant play on words, or a bizarre image, or a spontaneous outbreak of song, no one could accuse this piece of not being textured. As ever, O'Neill offers so much in this experience to absorb and digest. The guitar makes a welcome appearance, along with an allocated 'stand up period' to give your body a rest from the god awful benches you're sat on.
O'Neill also shares much from his past in this new piece, specifically the years that he spent hitchhiking. These moments add a specific humanness to his mainly surreal based humour. His passion for being truly alternative is stapled all over this piece, and it's these specific moments that elevate stand-up to true art. Andrew O'Neill has something to say, and he wants you to come with him. If you'll let him you will be treated with a really rewarding piece of stand-up comedy.
Andrew O'Neill: Alternative listing