Review: Patrick Mohanan [Hug Me I Feel Good] – Newcastle Stand

Patrick Monahan, winner of ITV's Show Me The Funny

Speak to anyone who knows Show Me The Funny winner Patrick Monahan and they’ll describe him as ‘amiable’, ‘charming’, ‘witty’ – basically one of the good eggs of stand-up comedy. And having spent two hours in Monahan’s company at the Newcastle Stand last week I can confirm these character references ring true. He’s probably one of the most likeable blokes you’ll find on a stage, but importantly he never feels insincere, or needy.

Okay, perhaps a little needy, but that’s all part of his charm; think a sibling slightly too excited for Christmas.

This everyman image that Monahan promotes certainly gives him licence to be a bit cheeky with his crowd, often assigning them unflattering roles within his routines. Two lads at the front drinking cocktails that look like milk, for example, become a permanent fixture in improvised sections of the show. As does the middle-aged bloke who has brought his whole family along for the ride; ‘Ashington’, the 18 year old kid who breaks windows for fun; and ‘Mackem’, the pantomime villain who ends up spooning Monahan on stage just before the break.

Amazingly, ‘Mackem’ was more than happy in his role as big spoon – but it just goes to show that Monahan’s control of his audience is up there with the likes of Jim Jefferies and Stewart Lee.

It all sounds a bit mental, and it is. Other critics may argue it’s a case of style over substance, but I’d certainly disagree with that. There’s more than enough here to pique your interest, even when one of his stronger routines – a bit about his Iranian and Irish relatives going paintballing – is omitted. Monahan does explores his interesting family dynamic with an insightful routine about the Arab Spring uprisings, but largely it’s all relatable stuff; like playing dead when the starting pistol goes off at school or how ‘the youth of today’ have their own handshake.

It’s a shame to think that after this tour Monahan may be back to doing regular club sets, because the freedom of a full show is where he’s at his best. When he’s given time to ‘dick about’, as Show Me The Funny judge Kate Copstick put it, he can produce something not only extremely fun but memorable, too.