Edinburgh Fringe · @ComedyReviewer
23rd Aug 2018 from TwitLonger
Ciaran Dowd: Don Rodolfo #edfringe #review
Ciaran Dowd: Don Rodolfo
Comedy Reviewer 9/10
Edfringe 5 stars ★★★★★
I've always enjoyed Ciaran Dowd as part of the sketch group "Beasts", so I was really looking forward to this year's solo effort. The Spanish legend that is Don Rodolfo Martini Toyota did not let me down. Dowd has created a real crowd-pleasing hit with laughs aplenty throughout this show.
I love how Dowd lets the mask slip between fact and fiction as he purposefully and nonchalantly reveals his true accent whilst still in character. The balance between "I am this character" and "I'm clearly NOT this character" is just right. This means the audience are not just laughing at him; they're often laughing with him and I think it's this that helps the audience bond so quickly with Dowd's character.
The writing is undoubtedly brilliant; so many laughs throughout and I love the character's story. What really got me though was his hilarious audience work that had me in tears.
It's crazy to think that this is a debut hour. Don Rodolfo Martini Toyota is a brilliant addition to the many wonderful characters here in Edinburgh and Ciaran Dowd is a wonderful talent. I hope to see both of them back here for many years to come.