By Lisa Clark
After a really rough, humid day, Carl Donnelly is the one you need to just settle into with a frosty drink and relax knowing he will make you laugh about life with his brilliant story telling.
Carl isn’t a shouty comedian, he’s very low key and droll but also delightfully cheery and sweet. He’s in a happy place and creates a beautiful positive vibe. We had an 8 month old baby in the audience in this intimate room and Carl, experienced dad-comedian, took it in his stride. He brought it into his act with a very welcoming and kind manner that didn’t interfere with the show and made everyone feel great. It also proved how quick he was on his feet, to make up jokes on the spot. The baby gurgled occasionally but seemed to have a lovely time too.
Carl got some comedy mileage out of hoping the baby won’t remember any of the eye opening material about his prostate exam or other very adult material and blended it beautifully into his show. Boosegumps is about some really adult topics; such as arse-probing, his ageing urinary tract, and polyamory, but it’s so warm, candid and charming, I can’t imagine anyone being upset or offended. He proves you can have the audience falling about without raising your voice and you can joke about intimate topics without giving the impression you’re doing it for shock value.
I, of course, loved his material about the differences between the UK and Australia, especially messy UK public transport. His impressions of people doing the announcements were hilarious and his physicality embodying characters is a delight. Yes, Carl is Another UK comedian who’s married an Australian and spends a lot of time in Australia so his observations are spot on. I’ve seen him a few times before now in Melbourne doing full shows and standup spots, (but not this show) and he never disappoints. I’m one of those people who bought the minty liquid soap he has a hilarious routine about because it was so funny and intriguing.
There are plenty of hilarious and intriguing insights in Boosegumps. I’ve never heard the term Gooch before, so there you go, comedy is always teaching us new things.
Boosegumps is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Carl%20Donnelly%3A%20Boosegumps%22