Comedian with microphone

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 18

Comedian with microphone

Two hours with the Irish comedian, Dave Allen, onstage is not for those with delicate sensibilities. His concert in the Town Hall in Christchurch last evening left nothing uncovered. Sex, religion, politics and drinking — all came under the scrutiny of his teasing, needling, ribald and cynical wit. Off stage after the show he shrugged when he was asked why these four topics made up his repertoire. “It’s life,” he said. “If people are needled, they are needled. If they are shocked, that’s just how it is. “I just want to make people laugh. That’s the most important thing,” he said. His approach on stage was warm. His only stage prop was a microphone stand, which he guided around the stage most of the night, or leaned on, between his

i wandering to the edge of the - stage and glasses of chami pagne on a nearby stool. His best pieces were imi personations — the black t Pope, God, St Peter meeting - the Rev. lan Paisley at • heaven’s gates, Bernadette : Devlin delivering a harangue, s the drunk, putters on the 1 green, the Englishman and his dog. s He was a superb story 1 teller, and a master of the art 5 of making noises — of pass- ’ ing traffic, the flying golf ball, the creaky door, bat’s , wings.