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A perfect Sunday night mixture of Random Fun was served up to the gathered crowd at the Bloomsbury Theatre by much loved Radio 4 regular Tony Hawks. A higgledy piggledy stage is littered with comedy props, including a ‘VIP area’ purchased on a whim from eBay for bold audience members to enjoy, and a golf club on which Tony was later show off his ball bouncing skills and penchant for winning a bet.
The best selling author (Round Ireland With a Fridge), actor and ‘voice of Toilet Duck’ has turned stand-up comedian in a show that skifully and amiably ambles through Hawks’ varied career so far with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation – and without a skateboard in sight!
Confusion between comedian Tony Hawks vs. US Pro Skater Tony Hawk causes more than a niggle to Tony, quite understandably given American teenagers’ frustrating failure to grasp the importance of the apostrophe. Sharing the alias, Tony asserted, has become the bane of his life, launching into the highlight of the first half, reading aloud emails exchanged between himself and pre-pubescent skater boys asking ‘how it felt to do The 900?’ To which Tony replies, with a wry smile, “The first 750 said ‘No’ so the 900 was no easy feat.”
Following a whimsical look back at childhood dreams of being on stage, blasting Irving Berlin for the woefully irresponsible lyrics in “There’s no business like show business”, Tony showcases a cluster of gentle comedy songs, observational stand up – unfathomable Shakespeare performances, Supermarket self-checkouts and the fashion for musicals penned on any mindless topics – before inviting us on a trip back to his days as a piano player and the irritation hyperbolic lyrics in love songs have caused him over the years.
The second half gave opportunity for prize to be won in a Question and Answer session, during which the crowd revealed a bizarre but hilarious distraction in Hawks’ choice of trousers, rounding off with a costume change into spectacular(-ly amusing) Shakespearean garb and a skit that proved Hawks’ three months at drama school in Manchester was time well spent.
Nearing the end of his tour, with a final chance to see him at the London Bloomsbury Theatre tonight (5th December), Tony is witty, smart and a tireless crowd-pleaser (and self-publicist – do buy his books, you’ll like them!). While nothing in the show could be described as ground-breaking satire, Hawks provides a thoroughly enjoyable mirth-filled evening while we all avoid the inevitable truth of what is Still To Come… Old Age and Death.
7/10
http://www.roundirelandwithafridge.com – Film now available to buy on DVD.
Mon 5th Dec Random Fun Tour 2011: Tony Hawks
Bloomsbury Theatre, London
Tue 6th Dec Random Fun Tour 2011: Tony Hawks
The Berry Theatre, Eastleigh
Wed 7th Dec Random Fun Tour 2011: Tony Hawks
Swansea Grand Theatre and Arts Wing, Swansea