Dave Allen show

Press, 17 June 1980, Page 6

Dave Allen show

t By

JOHN COLLINS

Copulating dogs,, various ways -of ?breaking wind undetected, ’a list of-euphem-ism's- for undone trouser flies, repeated observations based on;the many uses and abuses of the fundamental orifice — BijyS’drifice- for that matter. Dave . Allen’s material in . the Town Hall last evening was certainly different from the suave, anecdotal stuff we have: grown used to in his television shows. ;< Mr Allen has moved from hiss? usual delightful, world of Cdthplic jokes and skilfully told stories to a sort Cosby. . routine ... based on rambling,observations punctitatedMbyg sounds ' produced bv playing with the micro-

blowing , on the microphone resembles that of breaking wind (tee bee, tee hee), the effects fitted most of ,;Mr Allen’s jpkes'.to a tee (hee). Admirers of’tMr Allen’s many television series, myself among them, . must appreciate his decision not to work over the same gags we have heard on the television in the ritual ’ affirmation in the flesh we usually, have from visiting performers? '■ Nevertheless, .there- was some surprise in finding-. him working . through the same mildly - blue <. material one might-expect- from a ' comedian, doing the North of, England club circuit.' a titter to be extracted from everv bodily bulge, no orifice; left unplumbed for laughs; < exgot 'the

Donald McGill Edwardianpostcard routine, - tits and bums galore, the sort of thing one might, expect from, say, Frankie Howerd; but something of a surprise from the customarily urbane Mr Allen.. Whatever this reviewer might feel about the material, the audience seemed to ph joy it immensely, tittering almost continuously for the two - hours ’or more ,in which Mr Allen was on stage alone, f Perhaps, .‘he felt like a change..from-the usual routine? Perhaps he decided the audience would be convulsed by -the mere, utterance of such, words as- fart or arse. Hg ;was right; of course; but he' is capable ;of .getting laughs much more artfully than that ? ?."’’ ■? ??'?■