R U Smarter than an Irishman

Review by Jared Davidson
40 minutes | Comedy, Magic | PG (some alcohol use)

Patrick McCullagh’s R U Smarter than an Irishman pits the audience against the performer in a piece that is part magician’s act, part comedy, and part game show. It’s an interesting combination, but also a difficult one. McCullagh’s ambitious show requires him to wear many masks: he is at once the villain of the show as well as a charming compatriot to the audience.

And charming he is. His rapport with the audience is quick and witty, though there were times when it was apparent that he wasn’t getting quite the reaction he was hoping for. Part of this was due to the general lack of children in the opening night’s audience. If there is anything to emphasize about this show is that it is well suited to younger viewers, and can certainly be enjoyed as a family.

McCullagh’s show is ostensibly a busking magician’s act with an ounce of comedy added. He performs relatively low-key tricks that many will likely be familiar with: he stacks dice, plays cups, and performs card tricks, all while maintaining a running comedic dialogue.

These are mostly old bar-tricks, and anyone who is familiar with magic and sleight of hand may be less than enthused with this portion of the show. And while he is funny, and his skills as an entertainer are evident, the magic element of the show is essentially the main course, and if that isn’t your bag, the show probably isn’t for you.

McCullagh states from the outset that this is not a show that has a beginning, middle and end. Instead, it is a series of gags linked together by the momentum that McCullagh himself provides. Yet as an audience member it is difficult not to expect some kind of resolution, some denouement to the show. This is likely the reason that McCullagh included the game show aspect, which pits the performer against the audience and assigns fairly arbitrary points according to how “smart” they are. And this is really the best part of the show. It encourages audience participation beautifully and creates a truly interesting dynamic. Sadly, though, it receives the least attention out of all the parts, and in the end is shown to matter fairly little.

Despite its stumbles, R U Smarter than an Irishman is still an appealing show. McCullagh is a good entertainer, and the show’s family appeal makes it impossible to dismiss. Yet, with so many fantastic shows at this year’s fringe, it’s hard to recommend this to someone who is looking for a unique experience. For families, it has the potential to be a fun outing. But many people may want to look elsewhere for their fringing.

R U Smarter is playing at Venue 4 (Arts Court Theatre) on Saturday June 16 at 4:30pm, Sunday June 16 at 3:00pm, Wednesday June 20 at 8:30pm, Thursday June 21 at 10:00pm, and Saturday June 23 at 12:00pm.

Review by Jared Davidson
40 minutes (actual run time)/ Comedy, Magic/ PG (some alcohol use)

Patrick McCullagh’s R U Smarter than an Irishman pits the audience against the performer in a piece that is part magician’s act, part comedy, and part game show. It’s an interesting combination, but also a difficult one. McCullagh’s ambitious show requires him to wear many masks: he is at once the villain of the show as well as a charming compatriot to the audience.

And charming he is. His rapport with the audience is quick and witty, though there were times when it was apparent that he wasn’t getting quite the reaction he was hoping for. Part of this was due to the general lack of children in the opening night’s audience. If there is anything to emphasize about this show is that it is well suited to younger viewers, and can certainly be enjoyed as a family.

McCullagh’s show is ostensibly a busking magician’s act with an ounce of comedy added. He performs relatively low-key tricks that many will likely be familiar with: he stacks dice, plays cups, and performs card tricks, all while maintaining a running comedic dialogue.

These are mostly old bar-tricks, and anyone who is familiar with magic and sleight of hand may be less than enthused with this portion of the show. And while he is funny, and his skills as an entertainer are evident, the magic element of the show is essentially the main course, and if that isn’t your bag, the show probably isn’t for you.

McCullagh states from the outset that this is not a show that has a beginning, middle and end. Instead, it is a series of gags linked together by the momentum that McCullagh himself provides. Yet as an audience member it is difficult not to expect some kind of resolution, some denouement to the show. This is likely the reason that McCullagh included the game show aspect, which pits the performer against the audience and assigns fairly arbitrary points according to how “smart” they are. And this is really the best part of the show. It encourages audience participation beautifully and creates a truly interesting dynamic. Sadly, though, it receives the least attention out of all the parts, and in the end is shown to matter fairly little.

Despite its stumbles, R U Smarter than an Irishman is still an appealing show. McCullagh is a good entertainer, and the show’s family appeal makes it impossible to dismiss. Yet, with so many fantastic shows at this year’s fringe, it’s hard to recommend this to someone who is looking for a unique experience. For families, it has the potential to be a fun outing.

R U Smarter than an Irishman is playing at Venue 4 -  on Saturday June 16 at 4:30pm, Sunday June 16 at 3:00pm, Wednesday June 20 at 8:30pm, Thursday June 21 at 10:00pm, and Saturday June 23 at 12:00pm.