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Comedy Police Review

Roisin Conaty


The Suspect: Roisin Conaty

Comedy Police Officer Bruceboy investigated comedian Roisin Conaty at Phoenix, London on 8 September 2008. Here's his report:

"This is the first time I've seen Roisin, and damn good it is too.

"For a start, she looks like she actually enjoys being there, and while said stance sometimes degenerates into 'please-like-me' phoniness it's still the most sensible one to adopt. Her topics observed may not break new comedic ground - Big Brother, ads, nasty neighbours - but she draws you in, makes you nod with agreement and spices it up by slipping neatly into character. (There are a couple of neat call-backs too, but I won't spoil 'em for you.) In fact although she kicks off as a trad stand-up, some of this stuff's closer to character monologues, and it's all the stronger for it - just as the great Omid Djalili's at his greatest when he's leaping from deranged Iranian to sugary-sweet Brit. You get a pain-in-the-butt ponce interpreting her own dreams, a hard-done-to whinger who's doing a darn sight better than you, even a grandma git that'd make Caroline Tate blush. All through her very distinctive lens and even more distinctive London/Irish strains, of course.

"It only drags when she herself drags. There's a difference between easy-going banter and padding, and she could cut some of the crap. Too much froth can dampen the punchline, and it's a shame 'cause there are some gems in here. Oddly, one of the best comes from the tired 'Big Brother' routine, but I won't spoil that for you either.

"Nope, I'll just urge you to check this one out. Soon."


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