When contemplating whether to see Matt Forde: Eyes to the Right, Nose to the Left make sure you’ve read up on your politics and politicians from recent years, as without some kind of background knowledge most of his jokes will go over your head. The self-confessed Blairite looks back on the Iraq War and George W. Bush, considers current Government policies and describes his own pivotal meeting with David Cameron. Although covering well-trodden ground, Forde’s views are refreshingly balanced and judiciously supported, accompanied by a witty, satirical commentary, keeping the show light-hearted.
For the less politically erudite, Forde avoids lecturing by making his analogies relatable. Drifting into the topics of football and man crushes, Forde also showcases his spookily accurate impersonations of David Milliband and William Hague. His discussion of the more attractive female members of the Cabinet was very funny, though probably aided by one particularly enthusiastic contributor from the audience.
Whilst Forde is clearly very well-informed on his subject matter, he doesn’t come across as big-headed or didactic. Simply giving his views, he doesn’t look for approval or disagreement from his audience, who responded with equally polite acknowledgment. Although this show has a definite target audience, it did not exclude those who may have been dragged there by their more political friends and relatives. However, to fully appreciate the performance you would be advised to brush up on your politics.
