Ciarán Dowd @ Pleasance Courtyard

As one-third of sketch comedy trio Beasts, Ciarán Dowd’s abilities as a character comedian have been well-proven and he more than holds his own in his solo show, Don Rodolfo.

So much about Dowd’s performance as Don Rodolfo may seem like cheap, easy gags, yet somehow he manages to make it work so well. This is a character we have all seen before in many films and television shows – the sword-fighting lothario on a mission of vengeance, bragging about his conquests and escapades along the way. However, Dowd keeps it fresh with a series of bizarre and hilarious sketches, including a stand-out quickfire training montage, leading up to a genius twist at the end of the show.

Although he breaks character a few times and his fluctuating Spanish/Irish hybrid accent isn’t exactly the result of immense dialect coaching, this is all part of Dowd’s charm. This isn’t an acting masterclass or an Oscar-worthy performance by any means, and it's not meant to be, but more an impression run riot and one that Dowd plays with masterfully.

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Ciarán Dowd: Don Rodolfo, Pleasance Courtyard (That), 1-26 Aug (not 15), 10:45pm, £6-10

Scroll on to read more of The Skinny's 2018 Edinburgh Fringe comedy reviews; click here for a round-up of all the best reviews from this year's comedy and theatre programmes