Doing Nothing Greatly Benefits Creativity
Paul Lyalls
Pleasance Dome, Aug 4 – 28 (not 14), 15:45 (55 mins), £8.00 (£6.50), £9.00 (£7.50)
****
If there’s a comic anywhere on the Fringe with less of an ego than Paul Lyalls, I’ll eat his book of poetry. In amongst a festival that harbours more inflated self-regard than Cadbury’s production line harbours salmonella, there refreshingly exists a guy driven by a real need to be creative share the product rather than to show off or make money: a one man testimonial to what the Fringe should be about, if you will.

A mix of stand-up, poetry and, er, button pressing on an elderly tape deck, Lyall’s comedy comes from a genuine place. The result is a gentle comedy peppered with occasional and unexpected caustic bite.

He is very, very funny and very, very feel good: his delight at sharing his poems is contagious and he’s all the more loveable because of that. Terrific.

by Jane Buffham