Thurs. March 5

 Comedy, as we all know, from watching Billy Connolly and Russell Brand, is not just an American thing. But it often seems that way, just because Amerian comedians tour the country and pound the clubs and it's more difficult for English, Irish or Scotish comics to get here because, well, it costs money and, also, they're not that well-known. How to justify the trip? There's also the matter of will-American-audiences-get-it? Have you read enough Nick Hornby or listened to enough Billy Bragg to get the references? Well, if you have and aren't rabidly American-centric, take a chance on Irish comedian Ardal O’Hanlon, who returns to the Boston area for one night only with a new stand up show on Thursday March 5 at the Somerville Theatre.
Who he? O’Hanlon might be best known as the dim-witted ‘Father Dougal McGuire’ in the hit TV series “Father Ted”, a role which earned him five British Comedy Award nominations, one BAFTA nomination, and the ‘Top Television Comedy Newcomer’ award at the 1995 British Comedy Awards. But "Father Ted" isn't even on BBC America, so maybe that means nothing.

Which is fine because O'Hanlon is not playing the good Father. He's playing, um, himself, a situation, the Sunday Times in London, says is a case of turning "innocence into a deadly comic weapon." A previous winner of three ‘Best Comedian’ awards, O’Hanlon is coming off another sold-out tour of the U.K. which saw him play over 30 live shows in two months. He has toured England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and Italy, and has twice appeared at the prestigious “Just for Laughs” Festival in Montreal. He sold out a four-night run at Burren in 2007. Show is at 8, tix $35.

55 Davis Square, 617-625-4088 www.ticketmaster.com