Billy Kirkwood: Mayhem comedy review – Skilled and silly anarchy
The Scottish mainstay sets the stage alight with his frantic sensibility
Looking like ‘a man who sells drugs to himself’ and ‘Susan Boyle doing stand-up’ (his words), Billy Kirkwood bounces onto the stage. That pre-show self-introduction acts as a veiled threat that this hour could well be a lot to handle at this time of day, but the crowd is raring to go. With such incessant wackiness and chaos on stage, it takes a skilled comedian to know how to control their room. Kirkwood is that comedian.
There’s a wide range of comedy on offer during this hour including physical impressions, some prop fun and, the highlight, audience interaction. The material with the gathering flows so smoothly, you’d think it was a written part of the set. At the end, after an incredible big 90s finale, our act exclaims ‘I’m Billy Kirkwood. This was mayhem!’ There’s unlikely to be a more apt sign-off at another Fringe show this year.
Billy Kirkwood: Mayhem, The Beehive Inn, until 31 August, 3.15pm.