Godfather is still raging against injustice
Alexei Sayle
Southport Little Theatre
HAS Alexei mellowed? That was the question my brother and I were asking as we walked along to to see “the godfather of alternative comedy”.
We were both huge fans of this madcap genius as we grew up in the 1980s when he was famous for his stand-up gigs and his appearances on cult TV shows including The Young Ones.
The ’80s was a golden time for comedians, and they had a very rich seam of material to mine, not least with the political landscape.
“The godfather” was always a magnificent sight as he leapt around the stage and vented his spleen at the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – Thatcher Stole My Trousers was the title of one of his books – and others of the era.
In the intervening years, he has been busy on many alternative projects, book writing and acting among them, so this was a rare Sayle chance to see a true comedy legend at work.
We wondered what to expect. At the age of 67, did Alexei Sayle still have the same rage at the iniquities of society that he held as a younger man? Not half...
Like the 1980s, these are very turbulent times, with the main political parties looking as polarised as they were back then. And of course we have Brexit...
Alexei was unsparing in his rage, often leaping around the stage like a lit firework.
Old Etonians were among the focus of his ire. David Cameron, who took the country into a referendum which led to the current Brexit impasse; current Prime Minister Boris Johnson (“I have a dream where we’re both fighting in the war, we go over the top in the trenches, I’m right behind him – and then I shoot him in the back!” was one of his lines); and Rory Stewart, who attracted a lot of public support in the Conservative leadership election, but was lambasted by for backing austerity and the bedroom tax.
“Eton!” Alexei shouted. “Look who’s come out of Eton! They should put that school in special measures.”
Other comedians were also in the line of fire.
Speaking of the legendary line-up of comedians from the ’80s, he said: “Back then, we were all in the trenches together. Except for Jim Davidson – he was in the Waffen SS...”
It was great of course to see someone with such great local links. Now living in London, Alexei grew up in Liverpool and was a former student at Southport Art School (now Southport College). He famously admitted years ago to squirting washing up liquid in the old concrete fountain on Lord Street, which would then bubble over. And he remembered the food around in the 1970s – going in to buy Spam fritters and chips from a chippy in London Street. “Back then, Spam fritters were considered a salad,” he said.
The royal family was also a target for the man whose beloved mum was a committed communist.
He talked about the furore surrounding Meghan Markle’s father not being invited to the royal wedding.
“I don’t understand the scandal over that one,” he said. “Prince Harry’s dad wasn’t invited either...”
The huge applause at the end of the set, led to an encore, which was followed by a book signing.
It was great to see the angry comedy of Alexei Sayle back on stage in these uncertain times, well done to Southport Comedy Festival for bringing him to Southport.
Comedy Festival news and line-up: P31