New Zealand comic Ray O’Leary is known for his deadpan style, his thousand yard stare and his grey suit. He’s appeared on Taskmaster NZ and is a very funny man. It says in his wikipedia entry that fans have been known to come to his show wearing grey suits as a tribute – however this may or may not be true. (Comics have been known to insert jokes into their own Wikipedia entries).
Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
My show is called I Can See O’Leary Now The Ray Has Gone and is an hour of observational comedy by Ray O’Leary. Fans of Ray O’Leary will be delighted, though if he is not your cup of tea, that may be disappointing as Ray O’Leary does feature quite heavily throughout
What is your favourite thing about your show?
Every show I give away a free Toyota Camry. The show is costing me a fortune. The car is hidden somewhere in New Zealand. It is the audience member’s responsibility to travel to New Zealand, locate the car, and bring it back.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
Whichever American celebrity is inexplicably doing a show in the Fringe that year. How they never win Best Newcomer is beyond me
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
Dry, deadpan, intelligent. I don’t know if that is accurate it is just what audiences have told me after gigs. I don’t think my comedy is intelligent I think they are just confused by the fact I wear glasses
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
The staff at Mosque kitchen
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
To get the US and Iran to agree to a ceasefire and open the Strait of Hormuz. I understand that putting on a stand-up comedy show in the Edinburgh Fringe may seem like a very roundabout way of achieving that, but every little bit counts
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
The audience’s and my fellow performer’s continued failure to recognise me as the greatest performer of any artform that ever lived
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
I hope that they find the jokes funny. Failing that, I hope they at least like the house music
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
I will do a 10k run every day and after each show I will visit my favourite opium den
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
I am awoken by my childhood bully throwing a bucket of cold urine in my face. I am then instructed to take a test I have not studied for while sopping wet, cold and shivering. Then I have a small snack of some bolts and rubber bands. The remainder of the day I am subjected to the experimental noise band Wolf Eyes while acorns are whipped at me, leaving large bruises, welts and wounds on my body. That would be a perfect day
Ray O’Leary: I Can See O’Leary Now The Ray Has Gone: Pleasance Cabaret Bar, August 5 – 30
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ray-o-leary-i-can-see-o-leary-now-the-ray-has-gone
