Afternoon:
14°c
NEW: Taxpayers have been handed a £143,000 bill for protecting BNP leader Nick Griffin during his appearance on Question Time, it has emerged
More...
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,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Description: A 20th-anniversary multimedia performance, featuring music and guest DJs.
To see a true comedy internet phenomenon, Google Russell Peters. Despite minimal advance publicity his O2 show sold out in a blink thanks to a fanatical web following. His YouTube clips have had more hits than piano-playing kittens, ranting Christian Bale and Obama’s inauguration combined.
In the flesh it is hard to get truly excited about this Canada-born offspring of Indian parents. Peters is a very polished observational comedian who is hugely popular in the Anglo-Asian community but his predictable patter hardly justifies his star status. Although certainly not racist, Peters relies heavily on racial stereotyping. The Chinese are always driving hard bargains, Indians always want to save money, Sri Lankans apparently run all the gas stations. It is a relentless form of kneejerk gagsmithery, which, combined with a skilful selection of accents and bug-eyed expressions, goes down a storm but rarely takes any risks.
Occasionally there are moments with potential. An extended anecdote about being given a $20,000 gift by the King of Jordan only for Condoleezza Rice to receive a pricier bauble has some lovely self-mocking lines. Yet by the end of 90 minutes he was doing hackneyed riffs on the difference between men and women, a topic thoroughly flogged to death over the years. Peters is undeniably good but Arena good? Hardly.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I saw russell at the o2 and he was hilarious!!! Very original and funny, always finds new subtle nuances that certain races do and makes great comedy out of them.
Definitely one of the finest working comedians on the planet today. Well deserved and well worth the price.
- Amit, UK
the show in teh O2 was simply vulgar
- Me, London
