It was clear from Dave Mc Savage´s performance at the Galway Arts Festival that he is in dire need of fresh material for his stand-up performances.
The Dublin comedian, well known for his distinctive brand of dark and satirical humour, was off form for his lunchtime comedy gig in the King´s Head. He appeared distracted at various points throughout the show. He kept looking to his right- maybe he was glancing at his notes, but it was distracting for the audience. I had seen him in Galway- at the Roisin Dubh- last January and it was disappointing to hear the same gags trotted out again: the one about him busking in Temple Bar and his government minister brother passing him by in a state car. His property boom song. The Afghani woman striptease.etc. etc. It all sounded so familiar.
Maybe the lunchtime slot did not suit McSavage- it may have been too early in the day for him. And comedy instinctively belongs to the night.
McSavage is a controversial, enigmatic and complex figure. And let´s face it-downright offensive at times. He occasionally has a glazed sort of crazed look in his eye. And turning up for the gig clad in unseasonally warm clothes complete with a woolly scarf, and his hair streaked blonde, added to his eccentricity.
What I can say about the gig though was how clear it was that The Savage Eye has enabled him to come of age as a comedian and find his place in Irish comedy. He has carved out a niche in cutting political satire through the RTE comedy series The Savage Eye.
When mimicking the various characters from the show- Mick the Bull Daly, Pat Kenny and Joe Duffy- he was at his most comfortable- and funniest.
McSavage did apologise for ´lulls´during his show, saying that he is currently working on the next series of The Savage Eye. It appears he is saving the best material for that, and recycling old stuff for now.
Here´s hoping that the next series is as thought provoking, irreverent, timely and hilarious as the last, and worth his stand-up gigs taking a hit in quality.
