one4review | On 11, Aug 2013

Perhaps a risky title for a show since each one of us has our own personal, private fears which we may not wished to be exposed to comedy, but Keith Farnan has such a natural and engaging manner he can get away with some decidedly edgy material by employing a sense of irony in his delivery.

To keep the comedy in a more light-hearted vein he draws on his own experiences including growing up as a good Catholic youngster in Ireland where thoughts of fear are inculcated from an early age. He takes on some of the fears of the phobic variety, heights, for example. As a consequence, bungalow is a word he abhors. There is now the new fear of personal venom through Twitter if controversial views are expressed and he has experienced this in recent times himself.

He banters with the audience during the show and he has the quick wits to link comments from different individuals in an ad lib way. On the packed out Saturday night I saw him, he had to be at his sharpest to deal with a variety of interruptions as he was in full flow and, I have to say, with a good deal of patience. He said himself it was a testing gig, but he came through with flying colours.

Reviewed by Ben

Underbelly Cowgate; 61

1 to 25 August 2013 (not 13)

18.20 – 19.20

Fringe Programme Page Number: 111