Review by Steve Bennett

This cheeky-faced Irishman is a more-than-competent compere, bantering amiably with the audience and raising their spirits without bringing too much of substance to detract from the acts he introduces.

When it comes to his own set, though, that slightness of material becomes a serious handicap. He seems to have a lot of routines to draw upon, selecting real-life tales from a sizeable bank of experiences, yet almost all lack the killer touch.

He's a stranger to the phrase "to cut a long story short", instead spending far too long verbosely setting the scene for punchlines that just aren't worth the wait. By his own admission, he deals in "half truths with funny bits at the end", which pretty much sums it up.

It's testament to his skills as a storyteller that he can string out his stories so. His style is descriptive, and he easily engages the audience' despite the lack of any obvious gags. But attentive punters who occasionally titter politely is not the response a comic should really be happy to settle for.

And, for all his likeability, Bannon just doesn't seems like the sort of performer who could ever raise the roof.

Review date: 1 Jun 2004
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett