Pat Shortt describes his show as “theatrical comedy,” a lazy way of saying “stand-up routines in costume”. It offers a loosely linked narrative, with Shortt portraying a cinema usher, a cowboy builder, a character from a Synge play, a former air stewardess and a country-and-western singer, all of whom appear at various stages during a gala night at the local parish hall. That said, there’s little variation: the characters are all stereotypical rural gossips who delight in slandering neighbours. Shortt is a good physical comedian, particularly when it comes to facial tics and expressions, and his rapport with his audience means that his ad libs and asides during his strolls down the aisles are greeted with howls of delight. Apart from the vaguely subversive parody of Synge’s dramas, however, the comedy is distinctly average, consisting of sexual innuendo, shaggy dog stories and old punchlines dressed up in new clothes.
Vicar Street, Mon-Sat 8pm, €27.50 (0818 719 300)