Jimeoin on Ice
The reality of daily life may seem boring, that is until Jimeoin makes the mundane hilariously funny.
The Irish born actor and stand-up comedian might have shied away from fish and seagull jokes, but there was no hesitation when someone in the crowd suggested he crack one about Irishmen.
Neither did he think twice about poking fun at the Australian accent, which he says sounds like it’s stuck in second gear.
But it wasn’t all about making fun of Aussies and the Irish. Rather it was a collection of insights into the usually dreary daily life. His ability to find humour in the alarm clock’s snooze function (which had me in tears when he made the observation that being on heroin is like being hit with a giant snooze button), or the pressures the organiser of a friendly gathering endures, was completely out of the box.
Throughout his 80-minute show, Jimeoin on Ice, he delivered laughs a minute. Best known for his live comedy tours in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK, I didn’t expect anything less from this accomplished professional.
At the beginning of the show he warned his act was “really just a bunch of nonsense”. He also doubted the audience would experience the kind of jokes that brought on a laugh followed by a realisation of “so true”. However he was spot on when describing his drive from Perth to Broome as hours of nothing, followed by more nothing. He said the only thing he ever saw were dead kangaroos, then concluded that the side of the road must have been the place they go to die.
His laid back nature and casual approach took the pressure off the expectation for constant hilarity. And his jokes weren’t always funny. His toilet humour flailed at times, but there were always some audience members who found him amusing.
The night was topped off with Jimeoin’s musical antics involving an electric guitar and impersonations of band members including the devious keyboard player. There was an encore requested by the audience under the strict instructions of Jimeoin, where he returned to stage for another 15 minutes to discuss the act of saying good-bye and the joys of making your partner sniff bad odours.
Despite the ups and downs that brought on a mixture of polite and genuine laughter, Jimeoin impressed with his knack for seeing the funny side in everything.
Jimeoin on Ice is showing until the 30th of August at the Brisbane Powerhouse, and then continues its Australian tour until November.
Bookings on 07 3358 8600 or at www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
