Fringe review: Danny Bhoy – Age of Fools
According to Danny Bhoy, we are suffering through the worst bunch of world leaders in history – an age of fools. The air in the Royalty Theatre is so thick with laughs by the end of his Fringe performance that he may have proven himself right. ★★★★★
The topical show is centred around world politics as Scottish comedian Bhoy reflects on how embarrassed and ashamed the people of Earth would be if aliens landed and insisted: “Take me to your leader.”
His observations about Donald Trump are almost as funny as his hilarious depictions of the US President, while he describes Britain’s leader, Theresa May, as the sort of person who would open a packet of chips with a pair of scissors.
The aptly named Age of Fools show moves on to North Korea and ISIS before Bhoy admits that only the Canadians seem to have got it right in the selection of a leader.
The passionate defender of the Edinburgh festival has been a regular visitor to Australia for the past 15 years but this could well be one of his funniest shows here to date.
His clever political observations are matched by his quick-witted exchanges with the audience and a yobbo Australian accent that is as bruising as it is brilliant.
Bhoy’s animated mimics continue on to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spaniards and Italians as he laments the upcoming Brexit and the likelihood of a general election in the UK later this year.
The 44-year-old stand-up also has a message for climate-change deniers that if they need any proof the planet is warming, Scotland recently planted its first vineyard and produced a wine – even if critics did describe it as “undrinkable”.
The time flies by as the show draws to a close with a side-splitting tale about flying on budget airlines, which seems to strike a chord with a crowd that goes home happy.
Danny Bhoy’s short run of shows from Tuesday to Friday nights this week sold out quickly, prompting two more shows for Saturday at 5pm and 8.30pm – tickets were still available for the 5pm show at the time of publication. See more Adelaide Fringe reviews and stories here.