It’s so interesting at Fringe to go to a show of an already established performer. It makes such a difference to the usual process of going into the complete unknown and having to make opinions up of the performer in the moment.

Lining up at the Pleasance, it was filled with audience members practically giddy in anticipation to see the show. Presumably, they were made up of Aunty Donna fans, maybe the odd podcast fan, or even rarer yet, maybe someone saw the word comedy and just thought “Yeah, I’ll give that a go.”

Zachary Ruane has that same chaotic energy that we know from his Aunty Donna sketches, but there is something different about this performance. He has a look in his eye like he almost isn’t sure where this is about to go, but he is ready to dance in the flames if it goes south.

The show is incredibly clever, examining the path that comedy is currently going down and how it’s essentially dived into being all about podcast bros asking politicians for their take on fast food places.

We are also being taught a lesson on the different genres of comedy, being treated to a triumphant example of cabaret comedy wherein Ruane sings “Welcome to The Black Parade” in the style of a very well-known musical. And, just to set the comedy aside for a moment, I did not expect him to have such a lovely singing voice!

Given that is essentially a theatrical standup show, there isn’t more that I can discuss without massively spoiling it, but what I can say is that the crowd, myself included, went wild for this amazing solo effort!

It’s loud, it’s political, it’s also quite emotionally tender. You should definitely get tickets before it sells out!

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