Liverpool born Chris McCausland, who unfortunately lost his sight due to a degenerative eye condition is already playing to packed- out houses at Pleasance below, and it is really easy to understand why.

He has taken to comedy like a duck to water over the last few years and with his natural sense of humour and his occasionally self- deprecating style held his audience in the palm of his hand for the allotted hour.

Opening up with a few gags about his own disability and what this show was once going to be about he is off into the story of Roy Cleveland Sullivan who has actually been struck by lightning seven times and survived each time.

I was not initially drawn to the subject, but have to say that the rapport that McCausland built with one and all in minutes of his opening, allied with his undoubted talents as an extremely funny and enthralling storytelling brought me into the fold with the rest.

Interspersed with this tale are several anecdotes of his own, the story about trying to light a cigarette after coming home from the pub is worth the ticket price alone, and the whole package made this one of the very best hour’s I have spent on the Fringe so far this year.

I am sure it will not be the last time he will appear in Edinburgh, I think the guy has a great future ahead of him. He will certainly be one name I will look out for. 

****

Chris McCausland - 7 Strikes

Company: - Chris McCausland

Venue: - Pleasance Below  V 33

Dates: - 5 to 30 August 2009 (not 12,19 )

Times: 20.30 to 21.30 

Fringe Programme Page: - p35 (c30)