Bryan Lynagh - Gadonk!
The Hard Rubbish Cafe
Tues 13 March
Until Sat 31 March


Different comedians have different styles. Some like to fire off one-liners as quickly as they can and leave no time for the audience to stop laughing. Others like to build their jokes around a central theme in the hope of creating something more complex. As for Bryan Lynagh, I'm not entirely sure what style he's trying to go for. His act moves from prop comedy to storytelling to one-liners, and unfortunately not one of these hits the mark.

This is one of the shorter comedy shows you'll come across, clocking in at around half an hour. This is more than enough time, as the show never builds to anything in specific. Lynagh wanders between the various parts of his act - including several trips to a "magic box" and some audience participation - more or less at random, often finishing a joke before it seems to have come to its rightful conclusion, although in many cases it's hard to imagine what that would be.

Much of his material lacks any kind of punch line, and the whole act has an under-developed, last minute feel to it. Lynagh didn't even have an explanation for the show's rather curious name.

I never like to bag a performer completely. After all, it takes a lot of guts to get up on stage and perform, even in the small, casual venue that we were in. And Lynagh keeps up his enthusiasm throughout. But I can honestly say I didn't laugh throughout the entire show, and that has to be a first. On that basis, I can hardly recommend 'Gadonk' to any potential audiences; not when the Fringe has so much else on offer.

Henry Nicholls