Carl Donnelly summarises his show perfectly as ‘stories about the world from the perspective of a cuban-heel-boot-wearing hippy!’ - a sharp and witty hour filled with brilliantly funny observations and anecdotes. Donnelly’s south London accent, his accurate depictions of various characters including two aggressive ‘youths’ he met on the last train back from Brighton to London, an Emu, a monkey and a kebab shop worker create a dynamic and continuously engaging show.
Donnelly is perfectly comfortable on stage, chatting away amiably with the audience. He is hilariously self-deprecating, declaring ‘somebody’s having a midlife crisis’, and his comedy plays on his own opinions of the behaviours of people in his life. He comments on his friend’s pride in his new allotment, asking ‘There is a Tesco metro at the end of your road, mate, why are you farming?’
A self-declared liberal, a left-wing vegan hippy Londoner, and there is something wonderfully endearing about Donnelly. His show leaves you definitely wanting more; you leave wanting him to be your friend, due to his quick wit and loving views. With mention of the absurdity of the anti-gay marriage arguments and the general stupidity often found on the Daily Mail comments page of their website, he strikes up some exceptionally clever chat with the audience and ends the show with plans to elope to the woods with two bemused men.
At times Donnelly speaks very fast and as a Londoner myself I can imagine some of the impressions and slang may have been more fully appreciated down south. His show however is undoubtedly one of the best I have seen yet at this year’s Fringe, and one which I would strongly, strongly recommend.
