:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Friday, May 12, 2006 ::

Comedy Review: Mark Thomas - Work in Progress, The Comedy Box, Bristol, 11.05.06

I've seen Mark Thomas's Work in Progress gigs at the Comedy Box for the last few years now, and although I've always enjoyed them I've always come away feeling like I've seen unfulfilled potential. This show however was the most complete show I've seen him do and I'd say it was good to go. It even has cleverly intertwined running threads and, wait for it, a punch line! The political material is as incisive and cutting as ever. Unlike his anti-Coke show last year the politics didn't distract from the comedy or simply turn the show into a lecture. This was hilarious from start to finish, bringing to life brilliantly rounded characters with a few good impressions, and questioning why some people of highly dubious morals are still so likable on a one to one level. It also has several pause-for-thought moments as the reality of what is being said sinks in.

The show focuses around Mark's investigations into the arms trade, and is littered with anecdotes about the situations this has got him into. One of the reasons the show may appear so complete so early on could be that he has written a book on the subject, As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandela: Underground Adventures in the Arms and Torture Trade. Because of this controlarms.org make their presence known, asking people to add to their pictures to the Million Faces petition.

One of the most interesting stories told explains how the Hinduja Group attemted to get around UK arms law and sell military vehicles to Sudan. A report was prepared for Newsnight, but was pulled two hours before broadcast under threat of a legal shitstorm that the Hinduja's lawyers claimed would become "the most expensive mistake the BBC ever made" and would require a rise in the licence fee. Subsequent attempts to publish it through other channels were also blocked, until in stepped Roger Berry MP, chair of the Quadripartite Select Committee on Strategic Export Controls. (He also happens to be my MP, and although I wasn't overly impressed with his response to my letter about ID cards, I have to say I like him.) Roger offered to present a report on the matter to the QSC and thereby grant it parliamentary privilege. The upshot of that is that no one can then be sued for repeating its contents. Although it hasn't been presented before parliament yet permission has been given to publish it now, so copies were distributed at the end of the show, and I've scanned and it and uploaded it here [800k PDF]. Fingers crossed.

In conclusion, this was the best Mark Thomas gig I've seen in years and is highly recommended. The rest of the tour is currently looking decidedly short but keep an eye out for dates near you in the future.

:: Dan 12.5.06 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post]    ::
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