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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
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Description: Benefit for WSPA, the World Society for the Protection of Animals, featuring Bill Bailey, Robin Ince, Chris Addison, Lucy Porter, Norman Lovett, Will Smith, Tim Vine, Howard Read, Phil Nichol, Jeremy Lion and Tim Minchin.
Trains: Tube: Hammersmith 
Phone: 0844844 4748
Website: www.hammersmithapollo.net
Email: info@hammersmithapollo.net
Extra info: Pub
"Stop punching orang-utans". It may not be the official slogan of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, but compere Robin Ince's opening plea certainly echoed the WSPA's philosophy.
At Sunday's lengthy fundraiser that briefly threatened to become an endurance test, a joyous night was had by all.
First on was Chris Addison who, like Ince, is unashamedly exasperated by modern life and brilliantly dissected the differences between English restraint and US brashness.
By contrast, Tim Vine went straight for the punchline jugular with a fusillade of funnies, such as one about the elephant crying at a piano refrain: "Recognise the song? I recognise the ivory." Howard Read and animated sidekick Little Howard deserve a mention in dispatches, as does sparky singleton Lucy Porter.
But the first-half highlight was musical comedian Tim Minchin. His stand-up was so-so but at the piano he delivered a sublime jaunty number combining sugary pop and rhyming vulgarity.
After the interval, the pace quickened as hyperactive Phil Nichol demonstrated how he defuses street violence with jazz ballet. Drunken clown Jeremy Lion ("pleasuring children since 1986") tipsily told the tale of Goldie Hawn and the Three Beers.
Posh Will Smith and veteran Norman Lovett both earnt further mentions in dispatches, for respectively, puffed-up self-deprecation and oddball monologue. It was left to Bill Bailey to close with prime cuts from 2007's Tinselworm tour.
He revealed that he is too hairy for tattoos, sang gibberish lyrics and suggested that David Beckham joining a US soccer team was like Einstein turning up for a pub quiz.
All this plus a climactic duet with Tim Minchin, while Robin Ince in a bear suit was kicked by Bailey's tiny son. No orang-utans hurt then, just the compere.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
