Paul McCaffrey: Saying Something Stupid

You might recognise Paul McCaffrey as that hooligan in Green Street, or that guy from the Ladbrokes advert. Or, you may not. I didn't. Now bringing his own debut solo show to the Fringe, McCaffrey is hoping for some actual recognition. And he probably deserves it.

This is as straightforward a stand up show as you'll see this year. McCaffrey seems completely at ease on stage as he talks about his life so far. He intersperses some witty one-liners with some rather well-told anecdotes about working in telesales, amongst others. The highlights of his set are a particularly theatrical story of revenge involving the clever use of lighting (and a torch), and the exit music, which is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. His style is assured and relaxed, meaning the audience listens intently. He rewards us throughout his set with some beautifully timed callbacks.

Unfortunately, his material here seems pretty middle of the road and doesn't offer up anything outstanding. Underneath this average material, however, is a great comic waiting to happen.