Alexei Sayle: Presents, Soho Theatre - review - Comedy - Arts

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And when the bearded Liverpudlian bounced onstage like an angry bunny it felt like 1981 again. Until the pause for breath. After all, Sayle is 59 years old.

Sayle's return after 16 years is cautious, hosting rather than doing full sets. Comperes should not outshine the acts but the veteran motormouth was easily the highlight of a mixed bag, riffing on subjects as diverse as Palestine and being offered Hovis with hummus in a Greek eaterie. Still gobby but engagingly self-deprecating too, suggesting that in his alternative comedy pomp he was "only so successful because I was all there was".

The supporting cast underlined how varied today's comedy cosmos is. Bridget Christie dressed as an ant and delivered knowingly bad insect-based puns. Call it anti-comedy.

Simon Munnery offered obliquely deft gags and a perfect potted precis of Mission Impossible 3.

Josie Long's uneven spot evoked Sayle's radicalism, accusing David Cameron of forming an "Eighties tribute government".

But the MC provided the juiciest moments, shuttling between absurdity and politics. He confessed that his wife was worried that his comeback might risk "diluting the legacy". No chance. This was a most welcome January Sayle.

Tuesdays until Feb 7 (020 7478 0100, soho theatre.com)

Alexei Sayle Presents
Soho Theatre
Dean Street, W1D 3NE