Most of the capital’s Irish population seemed to turn up for their compatriot Tommy Tiernan last night. At the start the seasoned Perrier Award winner warned the non–Irish that they might miss some tricks but if they saw their neighbour giggle they should join in. As it transpired, Tiernan was such a force of nature no guidance was required.
While the show, Stray Sod, was occasionally downright weird — a pained Bob Dylan song erupted from nowhere — when the bearded storyteller aimed for the funny bone he was imperious. From a savage routine about Dubai economics to an inspired description of the Maori Haka as the looking-for-your-keys dance to extended reflections on parenthood and funerals the laughs kept coming.
A working knowledge of RTE broadcasting might have been useful during a section on why ugly newsreaders would help viewers concentrate but the punchlines were often universal. The notion of the Irish as snaggletoothed outsiders was a self-mocking motif. Pierce Brosnan, he chuckled, was “too good-looking to be a bloke”.
There is a spirituality to Tiernan that makes him stand out. At one point he referred to a gig as a “holy ceremony” and later recalled nearly joining the priesthood. The church’s loss is comedy’s gain.
Until Feb 1 (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
