one4review | On 20, Aug 2019

Patrick Monahan has been a fixture in Fringe for more than a decade. Each year he plays to packed audiences but his product has evolved recently. Monahan used to be all about hugging his audience, getting them on stage to dance around, all seemingly ‘off book’. He has always been very funny and a nice comic, and that hasn’t changed, but now he has grown into a delightful storytelling one, still funny but less… I hesitate to say clowning about.
Raised in the poorer reaches of the North-East of Irish / Iranian stock, Patrick relates his early life from leaving Iran as a child, his class conscious mum, scrap metal loving dad, growing up in a caravan, laundrettes, which was all part of growing up in Teesside.
But now he is probably middle class like his partner, who grew up in a different world than he did. She however encourages him to just be yourself, something he is adapting to. Patrick introduced her to the concept of ‘All You Can Eat Buffets’ laundrettes and bouncers at McDonalds, she had a bedroom TV, relations with six figure original art on walls and 24hour gyms.
Monahan has always had a likeable vibe going on and can always raise laughs whatever he is offering and this show is no exception. He is still himself, but a slightly different version.
****
Reviewed by Geoff
Gilded Balloon Nightclub
20.00 to 21.00
Until 25th