Words: Calum Baxter
Image: Matt Stronge

4 stars

Having reached the final of the prestigious “So You Think You’re Funny” competition in his first year of performing back in 2011, Alex Kealy opens his set this afternoon by spraying the room with air-freshener. He then reflects on the fact that this is the first year he’s performed in Edinburgh under a Labour Government. After canvassing the room for any other newly engaged couples, Alex shares his own story of popping the question on holiday abroad.

This show focuses on what Alex Kealy fears (which is unsurprising from the title of the show), covering topics such as nightmare plane passengers, worrying about being impolite to strangers when alighting public transport, the fabric of society collapsing and not noticing his wife’s new haircut. In this show Alex reveals a lot more about his personal life and upbringing than in previous stand-up shows.

Alex, by his own admission preferring to take satirical pot shots behind the fourth wall rather than reveal too much about himself. But in so doing here, he endears himself more to the audience. As I wait for everyone to leave the room not to appear impolite to strangers at the gig, I felt as though I had grown to know Alex Kealy a little bit more over the course of the hour.

Alex Kealy: The Fear
Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive)
16:15
Dates: 6 – 12, 14 – 25