‘I know Frankie & Benny’s are a genuine American diner because they wouldn’t let Omid in.’
This opening gambit from Omid Djalili’s support act Boothby Graffoe set the tone for a night of acerbic comedy at Bournemouth Pavilion.
There were no-holes-barred as both Graffoe and Djalili, 51, pushed the boundaries with gags that were often sharply political but also delightfully silly too.
Graffoe provided a great warm-up. He had a laid-back style, played the guitar and jested with hecklers and latecomers.
Djalili, who burst onto stage wearing a velvet suit jacket, began his set by belting out a song about US President Donald Trump to the tune of Postman Man.
And so he launched a show mocking everyone and everything from weapons inspector Hans Blix to Brexit, ISIS, immigration and terrorism.
Omid - who first graced the Pavilion stage in a ‘very serious’ play more than 20 years ago - also poked fun at himself as a ‘fat, bald guy’ and ‘schmuck’ of his tour’s name.
He promised to dance every time the audience laughed at ‘something silly’, and delivered, gyrating away to booming music at regular intervals.
Particular crowd pleasers included his various faux pas on Twitter, such calling footballer Joleon Lescott a Klingon, and musings about Jihadi John’s name.
The encore saw this cheeky but well-informed show take a serious turn.
The bright stage lights faded to just one spotlight as Djalili spoke about losing friends and family to cancer.
Then suddenly it was all about the laughs again, as he predicted his own ‘cowardly’ death and ended, fittingly, with a funny dance and a singalong.
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