notjustaboutsex

Maybe because I’ m a left-handed neurodivergent that I enjoyed Ed Byrne so much, as he admits to being an ADD southpaw, too. This almost straight from the Edinburgh Fringe comedian is brilliant and I don’t think the US should let him leave.

From his self -deprecation to his envy of James Cordon’s career, Byrne kept the audience enrapt for a full hour. Unlike many American standups, who pause a lot, waiting for approbation or hoping to break through their brain fog to check their playlist, Ed keeps going at a rapid pace with only one stop for a reaction to a ‘dark’ joke, which is clearly part of the script, knowing full well, the audience would be somewhat afraid to laugh. He’s an actor who takes us on a journey of how to move from Tragedy to Comedy with time, by telling us the story of his younger brother’s recent death while being very funny;

The humanism of the details of his family, livers and loss is sprinkled through his stories. While being robbed in posh Chichester, the thieves even take his emergency podcasting equipment that he carries for emergency self-expression. Then there’s the Irish good-bye. Apparently, it has something to do with leaving a pub without saying boo to your friends. In the States one does that if they don’t want to give anyone a ride home. Ed poetically weaves this cultural habit into the larger story of death. Challenging stuff …personal and deeply funny.

Colbert…come see this guy… he’s playing at the Soho Playhouse on VanDam Street until Nov. 12.