Ray O’Leary walks onto the stage with an undersized suit, presenting himself as a shy, awkward figure who seems almost reluctant to command the room. He walks off the stage with the audience in the palm of his hand; this guy has a persona with a surprise attack of belly laughter. O’Leary is very talented and will be one of the fringe’s favourites this year.
The New Zealand comic performs in a completely packed room with ease, his comedy moves effortlessly between the absurd and the personal, with stories of love, family and breakups. His humour keeps you on your toes providing an unexpected array of topics that’ll take you on an emotional roller coaster. There is an infectious spontaneity to the performance, whether he is dismantling the rhyming logic of “Davy in the navy” in Piano man or delivering the memorable declaration, “My life’s a mile a minute.”
What stands out most is the sheer pace of the hour. It genuinely feels as though the performance has barely begun when it reaches its conclusion, a testament to how O’Leary holds the room. O’Leary is an effortless performer with a distinctive comic identity, and this is a must-see for anyone looking for a genuinely funny hour.
Ray O’Leary: I Can See O’Leary Now the Ray Has Gone, 18:50 at Cabaret Bar at Pleasance from August 5-18th, 20-30th
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ray-o-leary-i-can-see-o-leary-now-the-ray-has-gone
