Any latecomers would be forgiven for thinking that the once raucous Burns had been cowed. He’s sluggish, the swearing has been reduced and the rogue mobile phone ring went unmolested. The reality is that Burns is ill.
It’s clear that the show must go on and he takes to the stage gargling whiskey and making apologies. It doesn’t bode well, but it’’s soon evident that while the fire is temporarily tamed, the wit is as sharp as ever.
In many ways Burns has matured. He’s even started a swear box for charity - okay, it’s in aid of the Tourette’s Foundation but the thought’s there. He still has his trademark rants (performance artists and Pop Idols being his main targets) and does numerous tits and ass jokes, yet a lot of his best material comes when he allows us to witness his obvious intelligence.
It may just be maturity coming to the fore, or a desire to move away from the ‘foul mouthed Australian’ reviews that have marked his career, but The Thinking Man’s Idiot is definitely an advancement for Burns. He’s still has the urge to rage against the system, but you get the feeling that he might achieve something this time around.
To say that his act hasn’t been affected by his cold would be a lie, but good ol’ Burns shines through the fog of ill health. If you’re looking for the raging tornado of two years ago you’re going to have to buy a video, but the older and wiser Burns is a lot more interesting.
4/5
Richard Biggs
