The Daily Telegraph - Features
This fine comic creation rants his way into a corner
Jonathan Pie: Heroes and Villains Duke of York’s Theatre, London WC2
★★★★★
The towering example of the spoof journalist figure, deployed to prick the pomposity of both the profession itself and also wider society, is undoubtedly Alan Partridge. But recently, Jonathan Pie, the creation of comedian Tom Walker, has been determined to give Steve Coogan’s alter ego a run for his money. Last year’s hit Radio 4 series Call Jonathan Pie gained him a wider audience and a 41-date UK tour, culminating in a two-week stint in the West End.
Pie’s core schtick is bracingly effective: he is a misanthropic senior deputy Westminster correspondent (‘“a meaningless title”) for the BBC, perpetually exasperated at the whims of his employer and the folly of the political elite. It is safe to say Pie’s own liberal politics will not see him joining the Conservative Party any time soon. The conceit of the radio series was slick and simple: unexpectedly given his own late-night phone-in show, he finds himself plunged into the world of serial ranters and, after a shaky start, takes to it enthusiastically. Yet in this live outing, which lifts myriad lines from the series, the overarching structure is far less secure, leaving the fast-talking Pie flapping and flailing.
After a too-brief opening nod to Pie’s hopes for an invitation to join this year’s Strictly line-up as the token middle-aged man, he launches into the charity campaign he is fronting to inspire teenage boys, the dubiously titled “Get your votes out for the lads!” This is a weak idea and is soon jettisoned for an all-out rant-athon about the Government. Audience laughter started to dry up on Tuesday as Pie pounded on, pummelling the crop of Tory politicians to a verbal pulp with an unstoppable tirade – his description of Liz Truss is eye-poppingly unprintable. The sheer relentlessness of it is exhausting, although Walker’s unflagging delivery must be acknowledged.
While the radio series craftily shaded in some details about Pie’s troubled private life, all such subtlety is missing here. Only in the final section is there a change of pace, as Pie punctures his own self-righteousness. “We all have a price”, he says. “It’s not always as easy as heroes and villains.”
I very much doubt that Pie’s putative audience of young lads would have stuck around to hear this conclusion. Let’s hope that Walker refines Pie for future outings, as it would be a pity if this fine comedy creation were left to wither ignominiously.
Until April 27; jonathanpie.com