Review: Al Murray – The Pub Landlord @ King George’s Hall, Blackburn (From This Is Lancashire)

Review: Al Murray – The Pub Landlord @ King George’s Hall, Blackburn

12:40pm Monday 23rd November 2009 in Reviews By John Anson, Features editor

THE Alf Garnett of the licensed trade returned to King George’s on Saturday and served round after round of his opinionated, tap room philosophy to an audience which couldn’t get enough.

Murray’s comic creation cleverly manages to toe that thin line between being ironic and offensive. There are some stories/jokes in there – the credit crunch, the 2012 Olympics, modern families – but the ranting style is what attracts the crowds.

And it is those who form the major part of the act. A warning, more than with virtually any other comedian, if you don’t want picking on don’t sit in the front rows.

Women in the audience are either nurses or secretaries, teachers immediately incur the wrath and upon discovering a health and safety inspector called Nigel, the landlord really went to town.

Al Murray is a very talented, and intelligent, performer and his boorish alter-ego allows him to tap into the darker side of society.

It does produce a funny show for the broad-minded. But more alarming is the fact you know there are people out there who share his beliefs. It’s a comedy show, not a party political broadcast.