Having gone to school with a friend who was obsessed with Jimeoin, I can confidently say that I am familiar with his unique comic style, with the deadpan observational jokes on the idiosyncrasies of everyday life and the functionality of people in general provided a refreshing antidote to my teenage boredom.
Years later, armed with the knowledge that my artistic appreciations have changed drastically (and the somewhat unnerving realisation that my friend also had an obsession with the pop group Hanson), I walked into the Playhouse with a slight feeling of trepidation, wondering, "Would I still find him funny?"
A slightly awkward start seemed to answer my question as a resounding "no" echoed through my brain; but as Jimeoin settled into his routine, that resounding "no" transgressed into a resounding "yes" by the end of the 80-minute show.
He is the first to point out that he has neither message nor structure to his performances, though that is not to say that his segues weren't seamless. The usual antics concerning the relationships between men and women were there, which received plenty of cackles and woops from the audience. The stand-out material was - as seems to be the case with all great comedians - the seemingly trivial situations people find themselves in every day, in particular a superb observation - and consequently an entire mirage of hypothetical situations - about the talent required to make tea and toast in the morning and not stuff it up.
It is as much Jimeoin's style of comedy as it is his subject choice that makes him a stand-out stand up. His ability to take everyday situations and turn them into a snowball of hilarious outcomes makes you want to follow him around for a day just to see how he manages not to hurt himself.
It was obvious that both Jimeoin's comedy and his audience have matured with age when he dryly remarked at the end of the show that he had given up his dreams of becoming a rock star long ago, as he performed a song about the talking that people do before they start singing a song - which wasn't a song at all, but a lot of talking.
All in all it was a stellar performance from the Irish man, and one I wish my friend could have seen - so long as she has given up her dreams of being with Taylor Hanson.
Alex Hahn
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