One can understand why Ed Byrne laments that he to once had to pass a giant poster of Michael McIntyre on his way to an off-West End residency, as, for a while, the 37-year-old Irishman was the observational comedian that time and TV forgot. However, despite claiming tonight that “I am famous enough to do a DVD but not famous enough to sell it”, Byrne is now on in the West End itself, enjoying more television exposure and a renaissance in form.
Different Class combines musings on Byrne’s betes noires, such as the allegedly flawed film Back to the Future, a breezy take on his marriage, which comprises the second half, and even the odd deconstruction of his own art form. On the latter, he will, on occasion, indicate how much of a routine actually took place and at one point he quips: “For me ‘the other day’ can mean anything up to ever.”
For the two hours of Different Class, the sharp-suited, chipper and occasionally chippy comic keeps the laughter rolling in waves. While the show’s theme, that he is deracinated between working and middle class constructs, is not strictly adhered to, it is returned to now and again as if it were a call-back, a comic device Byrne is a dab hand at.
At times, Byrne may come across as rather pleased with himself but, though not the most challenging comic you will ever see, he has good reason to be proud of this vintage show.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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