Review by Corry Shaw

Everything is more appealing when it's free, states the low key Tom McDonnell at the top of his show. He also asserts that people that like musical comedy have a higher IQ than most so if we don't enjoy the show it's our own fault. An assertion that is somewhat tested when he offers up a rather lowbrow ditty about farting on the train.

It is a gentle set from our host who opens the show with a song about Indiana Jones filling out a risk assessment to take his students on a field trip. A decent idea, perhaps, but the joke is stretched thin as the story is played out over just too many verses. There are only so many ways to crack the same punchline.

After this intro McDonnell introduces his musical guests for the day. Horse & Louis provide a much more convincing performance with hints of Tenacious D and the Conchords in their warm chemistry, but they only perform two numbers. All too soon McDonnell is back on the stage, with an oddly surreal song about his obsession with Barack Obama. The banter between the songs is more enjoyable than the tracks themselves and he does get his crowd onside as they readily join in with singalongs and conversations. He is a charming act but the charm cannot carry his material.

After the dreadful farting song, a tune about panda's having small cocks and a pretty simple number based on innuendo and wordplay the show is over, leaving the feeling that the time would have been better spent at Horse & Louis' own show elsewhere..

McDonnell has potential to be a good comedy act but he is more successful as a laid-back storyteller than as a musical act.

Review date: 25 Aug 2010
Reviewed by: Corry Shaw