Dylan Moran: Monster

Dylan Moran is a poetic drunk who holds a grudge against the world that's having him. Everything and everyone gets his goat. Even the simple joys of life unleash that monster that swells inside of Dylan. His persona on stage makes you think that he is better of being left alone, but this is one of the essential ingredients and ironies of Dylan Moran's stand up comedy routine. He clearly makes it clear that he hates interacting with people, yet he feels the need to tell us his pet hates in front of an audience of up to 600 people.

The man himself is a mystery. Unlike Irish comedians like Tommy Tiernan & Ed Byrne when thay are on a television chat show, who would do a questions and answer section after their 10 minute slot, Moran just did his stand up. I know his professional career began in 1993 when he won the So You Think Your Funny competition at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Critical attention followed in 1996 when he won the Perrier Award. His first sitcom, How do you want me lasted for two series. Nothing else was heard from him till 2000 when he released his cult hit Black Books. Film appearances followed but I have never seen him do interviews and I think this is why I love this DVD. This is the closest you'll will get to a televised interview. However because this is his stage persona we'll never get glimpse at what the real man is like.

Filmed in April in 2004 at Vicar Street in Dublin. Moran's Stand up comedy is very well crafted. What gives it the power is his naturalistic delivery. It comes across that he is just picking these ideas and one liners as he speaks. He is also a master craftsman at working the audience. He makes the audience titter with nervous laughter continuously with his quips and well executed improvisations. This titter spreads like a wave taking everybody in the room with it. Then when you least expect it he hits you with the killer punch line. Not all his stories and observations have a punch line but he keeps everybody on their toes with seductive quips till he lands it carefully. Its like going to the pub with a couple of mates and the conversation you have with them is full of humorous quips till somebody levels the whole lot of you with the one liner to beat them all. That's what it's like at a Dylan Moran show. Topics of the night involve religion, children, rap, and culminates in his observation on how you can spot Irish people abroad.

A definite for any fan of surreal literate comedy.