Jeremy Hardy - Dorchester Corn Exchange May 7
It’s election night and the polling booth is in the room next door in the Corn Exchange where the unashamedly radical stand-up Jeremy Hardy is railing against the Tories – his favourite topic.
Jeremy, star of Radio 4’s The News Quiz, is dissecting our current socio-economic system and worldwide right wing ideology with his typical charm mixed plus barely-concealed bile.
He wears his left wing agenda on his sleeve with no apologies. Looking around the packed well-heeled crowd in the hall tonight it’s clear he’s preaching to the converted, but he takes no prisoners and cleverly sends-up the middle class lifestyles of most of those present.
We laugh at the recognition of their own foibles and pretensions as he puts on his stylised middle class accent to lampoon cultural niceties of people who take holidays in Tuscany and have children with names like Poppy.
I is refreshing to hear him cut through cynicism and expound in such an erudite and incisive manner. He tells us he voted Green though makes fun of the failings of their Aussie leader Natalie.
His despair at the hapless Ed Miliband is evident and his characterisation of the political leaders as personalities is apposite. Hardy says the Tory head honchos get off the hook because they are seen more as media personalities than actual politicians. Affable buffoons such as Boris Johnstone – ‘He will become Prime Minister’ – he says don’t get grilled enough.
Apart from his right on politics Jeremy displays fine mimicry skills. He would make a great character actor with spot on accents. Irish, Scottish, West Country dialects all spice up his act which despite its tough political commentary – a brilliant examination of the ISIS phenomenon -- is never less than hilarious.
Unfortunately the gig was slightly marred by niggling problems with the PA system. This becomes slightly spooky when he begins a sectiont about police surveillance and the speakers start crackling and buzzing. Maybe Jeremy had a bigger audience than he thought.
Hardy is still on top his game after more than 30 years in showbusiness delivering intelligent, well-informed comedy with a socialist agenda.
GRAHAM JAMES
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here