By Isle of Wight Observer
A spritely Ed Byrne entertained a 500+ audience at Shanklin Theatre, with the latest leg of his Mark Twain-inspired Tragedy + Time tour, supported by Canadian comedian, Michelle Shaunessy.
Ed, returning to the Shanklin stage, recounted a car break-in in Chiswick when staying with Dara Ó Briain, and not wanting a five-star review from The Guardian. He exchanged banter with Tim in the third row, explaining what an Irish Goodbye was, and explained his reduced appearances on the BBC after Mock The Week was cancelled.
His heart-warming humour, and the theme of the show, focussed on the death of his younger brother due to ‘user failure’, visits to the hospital and sharing some of the texts they exchanged. He also pilloried the usage of the phrase “that won’t be a problem” in his experience of customer services.
Pathos without platitudes, Ed’s edgy monologue brought belly-laughs and bonhomie, with a promise of a return within two years.
