Half Measures for Al Murray, Pub Landlord

5 April 2012

On my laminated pass for last night’s Pub Landlord show an illustrated beer pump sported the slogan "No Half Measures". Which was unintentionally amusing because, for once, the character comedian without parallel (bar none you could say) had to work with a script which, by past impeccable standards, was not firing on all cylinders.

The gig, which was being filmed for DVD, was an early date in Al Murray’s Barrel of Fun tour and things may tighten up, but while there were plenty of laughs there was no overarching theme, apart from a spurious notion that animals with hands are taking over.

This prompted a beautiful bit of audience humiliation when a fan was invited onstage to be a giant squirrel, yet while the motif returned later it lacked Murray’s usual knockout satirical punch.

Other routines felt underwritten compared with last year’s bombastic 02 Arena spectacular. A relationships guide was a thin sequel to previous gender gags, while the Pope patter was a late entry in the oversubscribed Mock-the-Pontiff stakes.

If this wide-ranging set was an attempt to avoid the ironic patriotism that has previously been misinterpreted it is laudable, but it did not help.

Although some majestically sharp stalls banter kept things lively — and I might get my pass unlaminated for this — it seemed as if someone had watered down the product.

Al Murray, Pub Landlord
Hammersmith Apollo
W6

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