Comedy review: David Quirk: Cowboy Mouth

Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus (Venue 212)

****

Or so he tells us. Who knows what is true in this mesmerising hour, full of deep thoughts, philosophy and world-class stupidity.

His show is encompassed by dreams. Genuine dreams people have had about him, which are recorded and played to the audience.

The first of these gave him the inspiration for the beginning of the show – a ludicrous flourish of would be rock star greatness.

In Australia, Quirk is not only a stand-up, he’s also been in a couple of TV shows.

But in Edinburgh, for the second year, he’s decided to perform on the top floor of Bob’s BlundaBus – in this little alternative enclave of the city where he feels most at ease. His stand up style is simultaneously languid and slightly twitchy. But he is an assured storyteller, taking his audience with him.

The epic misunderstanding he had with a neighbour in a backyard is retold to gales of disbelieving laughter.

He muses on animals, babies and outer space – gently reminding the audience that we are all spinning around on a little rock quite close to the sun.

The strange dreams women have about him are only incidental to the show. Or are they? This delightful hour has a dream-like quality, where the boundaries are blurred between what we know and what we don’t.

There are some strange things about playing a gig on a bus. Quirk keeps hitting his head on the roof and there is a well known comedian on the front row, sitting next to a man eating pie and mash. But our hero is unfazed. Confident, assured and in control, he seems perfectly at home.

Until 27 August. Today 8:45pm.