The central joke of A.L. Kennedy’s routine is that whilst advertisements and politicians try to trick us with word play into believing that we live in a nice, safe, consumer paradise, the world is, in fact, a very terrible place.
Unfortunately, the audience likely to be watching her show, who may well have read her novels and column in the Guardian, are probably well aware of the world’s problems. The comic value of pointing out just how patronising government sound bites are is missed, as it begins to sound like Kennedy is delivering a rather patronising lecture to her audience.
Many comics engage the audience by describing comic situations arising from their dysfunctional lives. Kennedy’s description of her life certainly throws up some absurd moments, but the audience is never quite sure whether they are being invited to laugh at them.
Perhaps it is the necessary ego of a novelist that prevents the self-deprecating jokes from working. Whatever the reason, the audience seemed to have lost that loving feeling.
2/5
Gareth Braddick
