John McKeever: Multifarious

On top of talent and comic-timing, McKeever has charm by the bucket-load. He somehow manages to cram into the show five distinct characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies and tics. The range of performance techniques used is impressive – there some futuristic children’s storytelling from 80’s Aussie TV star Mick King; some misogynistic dating advice (á la Tom Cruise’s character in Magnolia) from American Kenny Kick; a karate demonstration from Belfast’s own dojo master, and much more. This is all tied together with McKeever’s Russian compère, who complains that McKeever (‘the idiot!’) will not give him his own slot on the bill to display his his ‘ability’.

McKeever’s talent for character creation is a thing of delight itself, but added to his charm and the level of joke writing makes this show a very enjoyable hour.

This might all sound a bit tiresome but the characters are surprisingly rounded, all displaying some flaw or another that makes them seem human and all the more personable. The audience participation built into the various routines is designed to fail and allows us license to laugh at these characters as they try to regain control of the situation. McKeever seems to relish apparently going off script like this, interacting with punters while still in character.

McKeever’s talent for character creation is a thing of delight itself, but added to his charm and the level of joke writing makes this show a very enjoyable hour.