A review of Alex Kealy: The Fear, Fringe 2024

Alex Kealy started the gig by walking out on stage in one of the Monkey Barrel rooms at the Hive and celebrating that this was his first Fringe without the Tories being in power.

He then explained that while he thought Labour would be better (a low bar to achieve), he felt they were something of a sticking plaster on a system that needs structural reform.

I’m paraphrasing to avoid ruining Kealy’s opening jokes, but the point is that there was an immediate sense of fellowship. Ah-ha! I had this ticket on a whim and soon found myself with a quick-witted, left-leaning political mind. That’s my people.

We did return to politics, but that’s not the only fear in “The Fear”.

Vibe

“The Fear” is stand-up traditionally. Alex walks out on stage and dives straight in. There’s no gimmick just truth and gags drawn from Kealy’s life.

Our comedian is newly married, good at maths, fears death, and is anxious about many things. You’ll find this out through a series of thoughtful anecdotes and stories.

Just how much anxiety can one person hold? Quite a lot. Despite that, I get the feeling Alex Kealy has his head screwed on firmly and will achieve anything he sets out to do.

Most of all: “The Fear” leaves you feeling less scared. I think Alex Kealy is A good person(™), and it pleases and reassures me that there are people like him. People with empathy enough to worry about others as well as themselves.

What to expect

There’s some audience interaction but only a little, although the questions are a little curveball. 

I had a great seat at the Monkey Barrel. It was on the left, just where a passageway had almost covered by planks of wood to seal it off and turn the underground chamber into a comedy gig. It was a great seat because I had legroom and a draft. Everyone else suffered. 

My tip: bring a paper fan.

If you can get comfortable and it’s not that powerful mix of heat and comfort that’s hard to stay awake in, then I suspect your hour with Alex will pass with pleasant speed. 

You can expect pretty much a full hour of observation and emotional wisdom told through the lens of Alex’s life and comedy.

Overall

Without a doubt, I’d go see Alex Kealy again. He’s a young comedian with a laser mind and a kind heart. 

“The Fear” is a traditional Fringe stand-up comedy gig that is contemporary, wise and funny. It does not reinvent the wheel, it does not break new ground, and it won’t cause controversy, but it will entertain, and it makes for a great start to the night.