Andy Zaltzman's main topic is always politics, meaning he can cover the audience's democratic disillusionment, teachers' pay, and the immigration issue in just a few linked sentences.
He looks at the role of science, the ease of being an opposition politician, and rice riots. A lovely idea on the vital nature of supporting your local supermarket ends on a damp that bit needs a punchline but the idea is there.
This is a man with the writing skill and performing confidence to make a room full of people mid-afternoon laugh at his thoughts on child mortality and waterboarding. More topics for great lines include the 'Offset' concept being invented by Vikings, Al-Qaeda's English teachers, and Bush trying to wean himself off torture.
There's more, from Mugabe to Iran's homosexuality laws to Saudi arms sales, and Barack Obama. There's then an interval, complete with audience quiz, with the second half being time for an awards ceremony. This section started with the amusing, but bafflingly irrelevant tale of 'Mickey Paintbrush' and his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Zaltzman's then back to topical political, the excitement of voting, and his democracy awards. Nominees: Mugabe, for 'winning, despite losing.' Burma's government for their 'commitment to their referendum' in the face of major natural disaster. And the Romanian town who re-elected their Mayor, despite his death, because we don't like change. A couple more 'honourable mentions,' and Mugabe wins.
Then there's the Kris Akabusi 'value for money' collection plate - for the British Government's impressive savings on nerve gas test payouts. Tony Benn accepts on the phone, with clips of his passion for Margaret Thatcher's backside. Surreal, not that funny. Finally it's the 'Golden Testicle' hypocrisy award. Nominees: the US Catholic Church, the European Commission on fruit and veg shapes, Nicholas Sarkozy, and Andy himself for 'whinging on about problems he shares, and does nothing about.'
Obviously Andy is the winner, to enable a shame-faced acceptance speech, which includes some good lines, but is very rushed. He finishes on an excuse, but still a nice line of the most local of political hot-potatoes it's a fringe, not a comedy festival.
Overall, Zaltzman makes good use of understatement, and is a master of risky topics, showing no fear of taking on any political issue. But throughout, he's using cue cards, even for this first non-preview show, and several times suggests the crowd are both audience and focus group. He often mentions struggling to run to time, and cutting material, in both sections of the show. This always makes me feel cheated. Was the cut material better?
The acceptance speech is totally read, and loses the eye contact that keeps the audience committed. As it stands, this is a three star show. But honed, tightened and fully learnt, it will certainly be more.
