Review: All Irish Storytelling Comedy at The Paramount

All Irish Storytelling Comedy at The Paramount Room @ Paramount Night Club
Friday, February 3, 2023

7.5/10

Ronnie Neville, newcomer to the Perth comedy scene, delivered a highly entertaining stand-up routine on Saturday, jam-packed with devilish tales of mischief and youthful miscreance.

From the beginning, it was clear that this show was a labour of love for Neville, who personally greeted each member of the audience as they entered, shaking hands and cheerfully welcoming everyone to the performance. This was also clear when he began to reference the specific pre-show conversations, he’d had with audience members (especially audience members from Ireland, of which there seemed to be many) during his set.

Neville’s charming and personable character was evident throughout the performance in the warm and sincere delivery of simply outrageous stories which, for all their comedic elements, also strongly embodied ideas of hope, determination, acceptance and struggle.

Citing his newness to the art, and his brother’s advice to tell the stories “exactly as he did at the kitchen table,” Neville’s strong, and seemingly natural on-stage presence was certainly a pleasant surprise. As promised, his delivery of the pieces, while undoubtedly a little rough and unpolished, embodied a sense of intimacy and familiarity, drawing audience members into his bafflingly hilarious accounts of nights gone wrong and childhood schemes, almost as though they were listening at the pub.

Armed merely with a battered piece of cardboard in lieu of a run sheet, Neville was able to expertly call forward stories selected by the audience and deliver them seamlessly. In moments of authentic excitement for the content it was not uncommon for Neville to swap stories and jump between pieces (“no wait, this one’s even better!”). However, he impressively managed to maintain a strong sense of flow and consistency to the show, regardless of his slightly erratic approach, demonstrating a strong instinct for storytelling. Each story was given its own justice and told with a tempered pace and skill; nothing felt rushed or missed.

Though very occasionally bordering on the politically incorrect, Neville’s stories were consistently exciting, well thought-out and often highly emotive and gripping, whether in moments of chip shop violence, duck-duck-goose-related tomfoolery or whisky business. In moments where stories were not necessarily laugh-out-loud hilarious, they maintained their appeal as interesting and immersive pieces of storytelling, an equally engaging element. Particularly with Neville’s animated delivery of the stories, bringing the endearing quirky characters of Cork, Ireland to life.

Neville’s passion and excitement for the stories he presents is unmistakable, and infectious in this non-stop comedy journey. Whether audiences are looking for a stand-up show with laughs, heart and zest, or an evening of lighthearted storytelling and mischief, this show is a delightful itch-scratcher. Neville is certainly a comedian on the rise, and a figure to keep an eye on as they continue to charm the Perth comedy scene.

BEC WELDON