AN indecent amount of top class stand up, a chilled out atmosphere and lashings of debauched behaviour it's that Kilkenny time of year again. Last year's inaugural Cat Laughs comedy festival was a downright groovy and, well, happening affair all the first timers congratulated themselves on their mere presence in the Cathedral city and a pioneering spirit bounded around the quaint streets. Very possibly this year's festival will be overrun by the Jitterati of Dublin's hopeless cafe society and us veterans will have to contend with the usual and highly suspect saddos and has beens who latch on to anything, anywhere that has been already validated as a "success".
As an "alternative" to the major gagfests of Edinburgh and Montreal, Kilkenny has that certain nil fhios agam quality that attracts the most dysfunctional, self absorbed and mildly insane type of comedian in other words the best and this year's Murphy's sponsored festival features 50 (count them) of the best US, British and Irish talents around. Stretched over 10 different venues and going at it from two in the afternoon to the small hours, the artistes du jour will be covering every style of laughter inducement from satire and improv to impersonation and surrealism.
Topping the bill this year, or at least ostensibly so, is the American comic actor Bill Murray, who will be performing with the Chicago improv team, the Second City, but the real star attraction is the man who many feel qualifies for the title of "funniest person in the world", and that is the very wonderful Eddie Izzard. Coming, as he does, from Planet Izzard, the man is a phenomenon in terms of his originality and his awesome comic ability. Laugh till you puke, as they used to say in Butlins.
Other artistes well worth leaving the bar for include the home grown Ardal O'Hanlon, whose charming brand of rural Irish witticisms finds a perfect home here. Despite all the accolades for his performance in Father Ted, it's worth remembering that he has actually won more awards for his solo stand up work. Other Irish acts worth looking out for include the powerfully funny Sean Hughes, Owen O'Neill, Barry Murphy, Jon Kenny and Pat Shortt (performing solo here) and a highly impressive newcomer called Tommy Tiernan. As an added bonus, Dublin's seminal Comedy Cellar club (the birthplace of both Dylan Moran and Ardal O'Hanlon) is moving its operations down to Kilkenny for the duration.
A strong US contingent is headed up by Will Durst and includes Dom Irrea, Rich Hall, Rick Overton and the very funny Kathleen Madigan. Top names from Britain include Boothby Graffoe, Mark Lamarr, Donna McPhail, Felix Dexter, Sean Lock and the do not miss John Shuttleworth. What more do you want an invite?
