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drinks Monday 3 November 08
ANDY ZALTZMAN
in
2002 CATAPULT OF TRUTH
Verdict: Sharp bite and very funny
Edinburgh - Pleasance - August 02
The front row of Andy Zaltzman's last-night Fringe gig is full of writers from other shows, and there's even a couple of people from the agency representing him in the audience. It's true that Zaltzman a comedian's comedian - many performers have nothing but praise for his brilliant political insight. But it's a misleading label - it makes it sound as if to the rest of us he isn't funny. Nothing could be further from the truth. He's funny. He's hilarious. And he's a real delight.
Zaltzman's with us before he's on stage. As we come in, his relaxed voice is building up the act over the pa. A moment later he bounds - well, strolls in a bounding manner - onstage, quite like Strewelpeter (and not a bit like Art Garfunkel - a particular bete noire of Zaltzman's), and mid-joke.
Tonight he's setting out to rid the world of falsehood, courtesy of his 2002 Catapult of Truth. But first, the Inland Revenue.
Zaltzman enjoys intimate relations with the Inland Revenue - as the letter he's received from them makes clear. He breezily reads it (later grudgingly admitting it's not entirely truthful), but its swath of bogus statistics ('and jazzy new logo') soon blends into tribal warfare between the Guardian ('local authority spending less than expected') and the Daily Telegraph ('blow it out of your arse, pinko') and the Guardian again ('fuck you, fascists').
He's off at a leisurely canter through a maze of topics including armaments ('even the victims are impressed by its shooting quality'), working from home ('if you're a jockey, leave home to work'), places in the prison system, Israel, and the death of Rod Hull. He was in Italy for the anti-climactic dawn of the Euro: 'expecting the heavens to open, or the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'.
It's time for a game of World Leader Top Trumps. Zalzman deals the cards to an audience member and they compare scores for Bin Laden v George W Bush - Civilian deaths. Next it's President Bush v Chancellor Hitler; and The Queen v Chancellor Hitler - inclination to hold massive rallies (The Queen surges ahead). Stalin and Hitler compete for most sophisticated weapon ('Stalin - winter') - there are unusual winners in all this - and the game ends on Bin Laden v Bush on international affairs.
Zaltzman takes a sharp look at President Bush ('the US's first surreal president'), collateral damage ('I did not press the button'), and Prime Minister Blair. Blair's reactions to 11 September are recalled ('Spend for Britain. Be confident consumers in the face of terror'). He admits, though, that 'history doesn't know everything about Churchill' ('Pass me the crossword, I'm off for a massive shit').
Jenny Bond, Princess Margaret, Royal Tragedy, and profound (ish) political analysis lead effortlessly to the genesis of the Catapult of Truth. It all began at the local fete, 1982, in the village where the lad Zaltzman grew up, near to the US Airforce (USAF) Base. ('2pm, USAF bomber flew past; 5,000 civilians killed. We were upset, but it was in a good cause - world peace'). A giant catapult was erected ...
The story of what happened next is described in gripping detail by Zaltzman. It culminates with a live firing of the 2002 Catapult of Truth at a bemused Earth, who makes a personal appearance. But - does it succeed? Zaltzman reveals all.
If you're not already a Zaltzman fan, Catapult of Truth's an invitation. Slight exposure to his beguiling way with humour is moderately safe. But high doses are dangerous - there's a sharp bite. Zaltzman's intelligent, focussed, and clever: fortunately, above all, he's very funny.
END
John Park
reviewed Monday 26 August 02 / Pleasance Over The Road
related topic - our review of Free Beer Show featuring Andy Zaltzman
for profile of Andy Zaltzman, see Chortle
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
