one4review | On 17, Aug 2023

Liam Withnail – Chronic Boom 4****1/2

2022 Fringe saw Liam Withnail have a critically acclaimed show that sold out nightly and a lucrative series of gigs were planned for the autumn. But then in October he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease and instead of the gigs, a resulting ‘flare-up’ saw him hospitalised for 10 days. Not what a normally healthy young man, training for a marathon expected.

But Liam being the comic he is, it gave him a whole host of material for the Fringe 2023 show, and although telling a serious story as to the limitations it put on his life, he leads the sell-out audience through the ten days he was hospitalised and a some of the issues it can and often does throw up. Withnail makes use of the experience and his creative talent to find the funny and to have one and all laughing along with him throughout.

Withnail is a raconteur with style. Not one prone to rants, he gently interacts with the audience, telling tales of boredom, podcasts, a lack of sleep, missing video games also the way his condition changed his way of preparing for the Fringe this year.

There is no doubt that he has had a few issues over the years, but Liam always seems to bounce back. This is a condition he now has but with his durability I am sure he will do the same again.

****1/2

Reviewed by Geoff

Monkey Barrel 2

19.10 to 20.10

Until 27^th August