Brendan Burns Soho Theatre, London W1, and on 22 & 23 July
Fans of Australian comic Brendon Burns's rabid, opinionated alter-ego Burnsy may be bemused by the second half of this two-act show. Like Al Murray's Pub Landlord, Burnsy's torrent of bigoted ranting is actually a vehicle for some pithy and perceptive comments on the state of the world amid the homophobia and casual racism; laughter at his more offensive material is sanctioned because the audience knows he's not real.
For the first part of the show, Burnsy offers his insights on religion ('It seems to me that the central message of all religions is, "Try not to be too much of a cunt today"'); on British politics ('Basically, Charles Kennedy would have to be caught with his dick in a kid's eye, and even then I'd think, well, I don't know, I'd probably still vote for him').
Lest anyone remains in any doubt, however, Burns has decided to lay the Burnsy character to rest, and in the second part of the show appears as himself - mild-mannered and confessional. The dramatised inner conflict between 'Brendon' and 'Burnsy' is a little overplayed, but the understatedness of Burns as himself is a refreshing counterbalance to the bombast, and gives him room for some sharp lines: 'Who do you think you are, fucking Ross Noble?' interjects the Burnsy voice when Brendon attempts a bit of surrealism.
