Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 – REVIEW – Jason Byrne’s Special Eye ****

Jason Byrne’s Special Eye, Underbelly McEwan Hall 9pm, until 25 Aug, £19.50

The expletive-packed set of Jason Byrne is exuberant from the word go as 3 members of the audience are coaxed onto the stage and directed to bounce behind Byrne on space hoppers, with the apt club song ‘Bounce’ by Calvin Harris ft. Kelis blasting around the venue.

Byrne soon delved into his frenetic set, at times pausing to interact and consequently mimic the ‘evidently mental’ crowd before him, which everyone seemed to lapped up. He has a way with his audience – he’s not afraid to keep any of his thoughts from the crowd, a trait reflected in his detailed and successful storytelling.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYTuWkrXV4]

To break up his funny family anecdotes, Byrne persisted with an eventually predictable running gag concerning the supposed ‘telling off’ motion given by mothers to duelling siblings in back gardens across the world, with the help of props.

Continuously confident, Byrne’s manner will not appeal to all but his set makes for an enjoyable evening for those who love him.