The life and times of Don Rodolfo Martini Toyota, the World’s greatest Spanish/Irish swordsman wearing eyeliner… where on earth are we supposed to start with this? It turns out that the answer to that excellent question is quite obviously – In a shipping container, down an alleyway, in the Scottish capital.

Our hero bursts on the stage mid duel, he quickly vanquishes one of his foes and whilst closing both the proverbial and literal door on the fight yells at the remaining combatants to get their mothers to call him later – Quite the entrance.

Don Rodolfo instantly owns the room and builds a fast rapport with the justifiably confused audience members. Here is an Irishman who “cannot” do a Spanish accent playing a legendary Spanish swordsman. His talking (ghost?) horse manages to occasionally upstage him and his tales of promiscuity are even more far-fetched than those of his daring-do.

The show play’s on a number of traditional theatrical staples including an excellent argument with his mental voice over whilst attempting to compose a letter, a couple of Rocky style montages and a thrilling battle reenactment of Don Rodolfo’s fight with an army of six hundred men after his accent and search for a “six-handed man” combine to almost bring about his untimely demise.

The entire show is a knowing send up, well executed by a confident clown in Ciaran Dowd – and one of his flirtatious lines stuck with me as I sent it to a pal of mine who decided to try it in a bar later that night. The line in question, “I both have, and am, a massive bell-end”… somewhat predictably it didn’t work.

I don’t want to give away too much more so I will end by saying that this is a really fun four star show with an instance of clown magic that, quite rightly, earns it five stars in some people’s eyes.

Did it deserve to win the best newcomer award? Yes and No. In this year’s best newcomer field there wasn’t a Tim Minchin or a Josie Long, hell there might not have even been a Scott Gibson! (who?) but as the old saying goes “you can only beat who they put in front of you” and from what I heard about the other contenders Ciaran’s show was a worthy winner.

In summation, I laughed a lot and I am sure that you will too. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing where this clown goes next.

Clown Stars: * * * *

@Pleasance That, Edinburgh