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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Russell Brand, Mark Thomas and Guests
Carling Apollo
***
Satirist Mark Thomas certainly assembled an impressive bill for last night's fundraiser to fight for the re-opening of a corruption inquiry involving arms company BAE Systems. If the complex case hardly had tickets flying out of the door, the attraction of Russell Brand guaranteed a sell-out.
But before the big-haired headliner there was a formidable supporting cast. Simon Amstell gets better every time and was on superbly sour form, worrying how to live ethically if his favourite trainers are made by cheap labour. Josie Long delivered a contrastingly cynicism-free riff inspired by her inability to get into a bar, eventually proving her maturity by admitting she liked olives.
Ed Byrne opted for a winning anti-US stance, Omid Djalili skilfully worked the crowd, while old hand Mark Steel struck gold with his 2012-knocking routine: "We were only given the Olympics two years ago and we are already three years behind."
In the mercifully shorter second half, Stewart Lee and Robin Ince both delivered peerless gags. Mark Thomas suggested more people would vote if there was a "comments" box on ballot papers and Phil Nichol, sharing compere duties with Jo Caulfield, pulled his jeans down and got more laughs struggling to pull them back up.
Finally Russell Brand swaggered on. Though not the funniest act, he eagerly engaged with the issue, explaining it after confessing that he had struggled to grasp it himself. Then, for balance, he returned to more familiar terrain of rakish tales of drugs, orgies and shoplifting before surprise guest Bill Bailey closed with a James Blunt parody that hit its target more accurately than any stealth bomber.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
This gig exceeded all my expectations. There wasn't a weak set given by any of the performers, with Phil Nicholl being nothing short of awe inspiring as the compere of the 2nd half, with his highly energetic interludes providing, for me, the funniest moments of the night. Both Simon Amstell and Russell Brand won me over despite being disappointed previously, having seen them at other shows. Ed Byrne also stood out with a hilariously vitriolic rant against the extreme right wing of evangelical christianity. The atmosphere inside Hammersmith Apollo last night was immense, and went from strength to strength. A quality night out.
- Rick, Hammersmith
