Des Bishop bangs a lot more than just his drum in this visceral performance about... learning to play the drums apparently, though his newly assembled drum kit features very little and provides only a metronomic backbeat to his intensely astute observational humour.
The person he is most competent at commenting on is himself, perhaps satisfying the narcissistic American half of his dual identity that likes, by his own admission, to ‘observe’ himself in the mirror. His rapier wit, the remaining Irish part of his transatlantic self, re-addresses the egocentric balance between these two divided selves by supplanting self-love with self-loathing. What we’re left with is a very confident young man who looks at himself first when searching for a subject to mock.
The result is a charming, chirpy, churlish performance that is energised, engaging and endearing. What is Des Bishop banging on about? Anyone who can harp on about the vanities, insecurities and indecision of a man dying his hair for nearly twenty minutes and leave the audience clamouring for more is certainly banging out the right rhythm. His material avoids being too gender oriented and delivered with a slick wit. Go and see the show and you’ll be banging on about it too!
