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Larry Dean

Since being crowned Scottish Comedian of the Year at the ripe old age of 23, Larry Dean has gone from strength to strength.
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 Image: Larry Dean; Photograph courtesy Perth Comedy Festival.

Since being crowned Scottish Comedian of the Year at the ripe old age of 23, Larry Dean has gone from strength to strength, supporting some of the biggest names in comedy on the circuit.

Three years later and on his second tour of Australia, Out Now provides amusing insights into Deans daily toils with his family, catholic upbringing, having a brother who no longer wear priests garb but is adamant that his sibling should not partake of ‘the body of Christ’ because of his homosexual persuasion, and parents that place bets with each other – on both their son’s sexual persuasion and the success of his gigs!

From the minute he takes the stage it is hard not to like Dean. His eyes literally sparkle with mischief – which may or may not have something to do with the half-drunk beer he enters with having missed several cues, and unlike many other Glaswegians we hear about in the show, he speaks with the whole of his mouth (not just the bottom half), and has a beautifully elastic face that allows his expressions to highlight and emphasise many of his jokes and characters.

The Mount Lawley Bowling Cub is a gorgeous venue that seems almost tailor made for a comedy crowd, which was actually a surprisingly mixed bunch within the 100 seater room where Dean was playing, proving that his reputation precedes him.

Describing himself as ‘possibly a little too honest in most shows’ and after conducting a simple question and answer session to make sure the audience wasn’t full of racists and homophobes, Dean looked immediately comfortable in the spotlight and has definitely done his homework on Australians, our mannerisms and our politics.

Dean wrapped Perth up as looking like ‘someone built a city and forgot to invite people to join’, and after touching upon the obligatory Scottish Referendum and US politics, hailed Aussie politicians as the worst of the lot – although he does admit to being attracted to the classic Aussie ‘bogan’, so there is no accounting for taste!

Like in most small to mid-sized shows where the comedian is within spitting distance of the audience, members of the front row were perfectly positioned fodder for the rooms communal entertainment, and one particularly moralistic seeming lady was selected to keep Deans jokes within ratings deemed suitable.

Dean takes every pun and story to the brink, recounting details and taking the audience further into the innards of his life than most comics do, but the likability factor works its charms and the audience loves every morsel, and would probably back him in a fight if necessary as you come out of a Larry Dean show thinking you know the kid pretty damn well.

‘Charles’ is one lucky London based Nigerian to have found such an amicable flatmate to follow around the house. The Perth Comedy festival is the largest and most exciting comedy event in WA and is on for one more week.

Larry Dean is definitely one to watch out for on his undoubted return to Australia and hopefully Perth Comedy Festival.

Rating: 3.5 stars out 5

Larry Dean

Perth Comedy Festival 

Mount Lawley Bowling Club
22 April – 15 May 2016

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Victoria Wyatt
About the Author
Victoria Wyatt has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town. Victoria has worked across the music/festival/theatre scenes in New York, London and Rome for the last 15 years. She is currently back in her hometown of Perth and can be found writing for Artshub, designing sets and interactive displays for children's/community events and stage/production managing around town.