David O’Doherty has left behind the depression of 2012’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, where we saw him trying to get over a broken heart, and emerged with a new show, Seize the David O’Doherty.
What we get this year is a much more upbeat O’Doherty; one who is genuinely thrilled with the prospect of moving on, finding a new lady, and with life in general.
At times, O’Doherty isn’t funny so much as genuinely heart-warming, and not in a saccharine way either – he is completely endearing. His gentle, occasionally angry interactions with life are relayed to us through slightly meandering stories which deliver laughs as well as genuine affection.
Admittedly the title of the show isn’t actually an indication of its content, and this is not David O’Doherty at his best, but it is still very good, and with some ironing out once the comedian has a few more shows under his belt, it has the potential to be excellent.
O’Doherty’s usual trademarks are all present, including great puns involving pop icons, his well known keyboard songs, a grandiose self introduction, faux bravado, and his embracing the wonder and drama that can be found in life’s mundanities.
Playing a childlike character in the body of a grown man is a shtick that’s worked for him for a good few years, earning him success in his home country of Ireland as well as the United Kingdom and Australia. He doesn’t tackle hard subjects; instead, O’Doherty is a champion of the first world problem, and makes us laugh by drawing attention to these problems in an overly dramatic and self aware way.
If you are not a fan of silliness then this one probably isn’t for you. For the rest of us, O’Doherty has once again demonstrated why Melbourne audiences continue to flock to his shows for more, year after year.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Seize the David O’Doherty (Carpe Do’Diem)
Forum Theatre, Melbourne
28 March – 21 April
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
www.comedyfestival.com.au
27 March – 21 April
