Comedy review: Doug Anthony All Stars: Near Death Experience

Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

****

When original member Tim Ferguson was crippled with multiple sclerosis, they decided to get the band back together.

Against a beautiful projected backdrop of brain scans floating in space, Paul McDermott, Ferguson and new member Paul “Flacco” Livingston sing, laugh and joke against the dying of the light.

The songs are rousing, simple and funny, and there is an endless source of fun to be had from gags about disability and death.

Ferguson, who is in a wheelchair, does a number of identical impressions, all based on his limited arm movements. McDermott pretends to be bullying his afflicted old mate, while simultaneously keeping a watchful eye on him at every single moment Livingston plays a mean guitar and looks grimly on, while being taunted about his similarity to Nosferatu the Vampyre.

McDermott gets a lot of mileage from being the only “normal” cast member standing on stage in between a disabled performer and a pensioner. You never believe his meanness for a moment, but still find yourself spluttering with laughter at the outrageous things he says.

There is nothing gentle about the Doug Anthony All Stars’ style of comedy. It is fierce, uncompromising and not afraid to rip up the rules. It’s also full of energy: despite Ferguson’s frailty he never loses a comic beat and his everpresent but lopsided smile still lights up the room.

Even if you didn’t catch the Doug Anthony All Stars when they were all able bodied, this is a wonderful, exuberant and hilarious hour. We all have bodies; we are all fragile and we are all going to die, but we should laugh as long as we have breath.

Until 27 August. Wednesday 10pm.