We laughed for two hours
Everyone was given a warm welcome by the Pub Landlord, the genial host who wanted to chat with all his customers – Or at least the first four rows of Bromley’s Churchill Theatre, writes Michael Holland.
Me and Ms Aitch were there for Al Murray’s Guv Island tour that has the same routine as his previous tours in his guise as the ebullient-cum-belligerent innkeeper who wants to know anything and everything about his clientele, returning their cheerfulness with warm ale for the men, white wine or fruit-based drinks for the ladies – as long as they have ‘normal’ names, good British names; the couple called Kath and Barry went down well, while the parents of Neo and Milo were interrogated about their decision.
Al wants to know what line of work people do and loves a good, solid job title. Nurses got a clap (“Like the Pandemic Thursdays”), builders were generously honoured, while modern job titles elicited derision and looks that could kill. Last night we had Pastoral Lead, Education Wrap Cover and Events Manager that the Landlord boiled down to Breakfast Club Lady, Piss-Up Organiser or, as was the case of the majority of the women asked, a secretary. And they had to admit it through a microphone like an addict at a meeting: ‘My name is Vanessa and I’m a secretary’.
It sounds harsh, even close to bullying, but the ‘victims’ loved it and we loved watching it – Mainly because we were far enough back to not be in any danger…
The first half is an hour of the award-winning comedian getting to know his customers, seemingly having a chat rather than doing a comedy act. But Al Murray has a rehearsed response to any job that can be thrown at him, there is not a job in the world he does not have a funny retort to. For the whole show he remembers the names of the people he has induced into his game, he remembers their job, he uses them all has running gags until.
The second half does have a bit of a plan about it but the earlier audience participation continues with the jokes he had set up with each person _ The Alpha Male, the Crisp Lover, the D Day veteran… In a quick-fire delivery he gave us every aspect of the Second World War, from its very beginnings to its bitter end, culminating our victory the reason why we got the NHS.
He argued the benefits of the ridiculed Rwanda Programme but with the proposal that we keep those brave migrants that cross the Channel and send cyclists to Rwanda instead, and people who don’t have their ticket ready at the barrier, people who play their music too loud on public transport, each new sub-section of society feeling his wrath evoking loud cheers every time as he banished each group to Rwanda. And this was an audience who look like they think Murray’s Conservative, Europe-hating persona is real and would quote his catchphrases on anti-Muslim marches. And therein lies the genius of Al Murray.
He is not that person. He is intelligent. He has a history degree from Oxford. As Pub Landlord he stood against Farage in the 2015 general election and rejoiced in him not winning a seat in the House of Commons.
We laughed for two hours.
The Guv Island Tour continues and can be seen in places not too far from London.
Details and Booking: https://www.eventim.co.uk/artist/al-murray/
