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Comedian Ed Byrne at Warwick Arts Centre reviewed by site user Paul Bradley.
Ed Byrne has come a long way since last playing Warwick Arts Centre two years ago.
As well as being described as one of the brightest stars of stand up comedy and being one of the best acts at this years Melbourne and New Zealand Comedy festivals, he's also starred alongside Pete Postlehwaite in the film RAT and with Davina McCall in ITV sitcom Sam's Game.
Ed started the evening quite pleased with himself commenting that the last time he played at the Warwick Arts Centre he was in a room a fraction of the size of the Butterworth Hall.
Smoking on stage
He then lit a cigarette on stage and made no apologies to the non-smokers in the crowd. "This doesn't annoy the non-smokers anywhere near as it does the smokers."
He had no regrets for his habit and continued about the embarrassment one feels if you're forced to buy a packet of 10 cigarettes. "You feel like a Pike."
Not just Ed's show
This wasn't just Ed's show. After a short while he surprised most of the audience by introducing a close friend of his to take over the proceedings. "He's very nervous. That's because he's s--t. Please welcome Glen Wall". Glen, a Canadian by birth now living in London had no great expectations to meet after such an introduction.
Glen held no qualms about who or what he made fun of.
Eminem his first victim
Eminem was his first victim as he questioned how could he write homophobic lyrics when his name spelt backwards is Meninme!
Glen liked to smoke on stage as well and talked about how back home in Canada they have very large smoking warnings on the packet as well as pictures of smokers lungs.
Glen commented on how such warnings have little effect on people like himself and that the warnings should be more philosophical such, "Smoking can kill but only 5% of the population believe death is the ultimate end".
He continued that it's even worse when you go to a shop and they've run out of packs of 20 so they ask, would you like two 10's? "No, I'll buy a pack of 10 until I can find a shop with a decent stock control system!"
Soccer
Sport was another topic where he tried to provoke the audience by talking about his appreciation of "Soccer", repeating the word numerous times before acknowledging, "You don't like it when people call it Soccer."
He liked the idea that when you go to a match you can sing but was disappointed that you couldn't choose the song!
Ed's jokes and victims continued covering a wide range of topics - from Madonna, Michael Barrymore to sex and politics!
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Ed Byrne at Warwick Arts Centre
Shined with style
Ed had shined with style and I'm not just talking about his clothes. His small physique on the large stage was compensated for with his fast comical banter that provided the unusually tepid Friday night crowd with plenty to revel on.
Personally I think he's the best stand up I've seen at Warwick Arts Centre this year.
If he comes back to play Warwick Arts Centre in two years time, I'll be the first there to listen to his latest gripes.
Follow the link on the left to read previous comedy reviews from Warwick Arts Centre to to find out what's on there.
