Billy Connolly wows audience at Perth Concert Hall

Oct 2 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

MIRTH minstrel Billy Connolly shrugged off his advancing years and globe-trotting lifestyle to return to his Scottish roots and give a masterclass in stand-up comedy presentation for his much sought-after Perth gig on his current homeland tour.

The flamboyance, the sweary words, the control of his audience – hecklers were effortlessly verbally swatted like flies, the craft of moulding seemingly trivial subjects into works of comedy art, were Connolly trademarks seemingly effortlessly machine-gunned for almost two hours – sans interval – with the energy of a man half the Big Yin’s near-67 years.

He didn’t need to get his audience on his side with Perth-related reminisces, but he did – a lonesome post-gig meal in a city Indian restaurant “Last time I was here, or was it the time before”; recollection from at least 20 years ago of a St Johnstone v Hibernian game at Muirton Park when every other match had been snowed off; and how “I would hate to be a St Johnstone supporter” because good players are no sooner through the door than they’re out en route to bigger clubs.

Like a honey bee on speed he harvested nectar from anal examinations, the sh**e of Scottish football today, childhood memories of his obese and smelly Auntie Agnes, and getting to the bottom of Rafal Nadal’s power on the tennis court.

Proving that Connolly continues to fire the complete arsenal in the comedian’s armoury – including timing, movement, attention to detail and a total disregard for ‘PC’ – we enjoyed a hilarious comparison between the Macedonian national anthem and Flower of Scotland, recollections of klaxons for disabled and able-bodied workers when he was a welder in Govan, and why shinty should be the national sport.

His final gag of the night – taking the role of a hospital patient with tubes down his throat trying to communicate with a nurse – underlined that Connolly is a genius.

Alison Anderson