Jerry Seinfeld once said that he favors clean comedy, not because he objects to profanity or toilet humor, but simply because it makes him write better jokes. Jason Byrne is not clean. Which would be fine if his show, Cirque du Byrne, was capable of sustaining itself for the full hour.
Instead, what starts brightly with our host skipping with a bunch of hapless audience members – sit at the front at your peril – labors across the finish line with too many cheap laughs and a finale which is just plain weird.
It seems comedy festival regular Byrne genuinely likes Australians, and he’s got the accent down pat. But the one thing about Canberra and Adelaide jokes is that we’ve all heard them before.
The first 30 minutes are hilarious. There is no one Byrne can’t satirise perfectly, from himself to the audience to Julia Gillard. And the ploy of inviting people to bring him random gifts works a treat. Unfortunately Byrne improvises so well that the show’s core comes across as forced and lame.
Trying to fit three grown men into a pair of underpants might sound like fertile ground for comedy, but the premise is all there is, and the gag stalls.
Byrne’s ability to laugh at himself makes this a fun show, but the best stuff will be written on the night.
Jason Byrne’s Cirque du Byrne, Tue-Sat 8.30pm, Sun 7.30pm at the Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne until April 24th. Tickets: Full $38, Concession $32, Group (10 or more) $32, Laugh Pack $32, Tightarse Tuesday $32. Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 660 013, At the venue 03 9650 1500, At the door.
