Zarganar Thura is a stand up comedian and he was at "The Policeman's Ball" not to make jokes but to thank Amnesty International, who were celebrating their 50th Anniversary by presenting "The Policeman's Ball" at Radio City Music Hall Sunday night, for getting him out of jail where he had served 11 years of a 35 year sentence for criticizing the government. But he told a joke any way. 25% of the new Burmese government are military, Zarganar advised us. He recommended they make an additional 25% stand up comics, so half the government could be officially crazy.
Introduced by Liam Neeson, it was a pretty good line given the circumstances.
As good as a lot of the comedians who performed sketches and stand up for knocking on three hours, with a break near the start for three songs by Mumford And Sons and three songs at the end by Coldplay. It was a pretty good night. All of the Saturday Night Live representatives, with the exception of Bill Hader as a Hannibal Lecter-ish Julian Assanges, were lousy. Fred Armisens, who I loved in 2011, seems to be stumbling all over 2012 and was particularly lousy.
But no worse than Ben Stiller, who hasn't been funny in years and years and wasn't remotely amusing in a difference between American and English language bit. Or Jon Stewart, who sunk like a stone in a North Korea sketch. Indeed, the American contingent of the evening of comedy were just awful. couple of Muppets, Waldorf and Statler, nailed em with "I've seen better material in a sewing machine" and should have heckled them more. Even Sarah Silverman only pulled it out at the last minute. They got creamed by the Limey's.
The Eddie Izzard atheist sketch, "everybody would pray if it worked", I've heard many times and to be honest I wasn't very thrilled. But the rest of the English comics were funnier. Russell Brand was hysterical kidnapping an audience member for not joining Amnesty. But Jack Whitehall was funnier. Best line of the night: "There is a lot of planning going on for the London Olympics. Especially by Al Qaeda". He was equally good about smartphones and comparing sleeping with his girlfriend at his Mom's house to Anne Franks parents having sex.
Still, the show stumbled badly somewhere around the second act. A ghastly sketch about a society of anonymous members never happened and a Paul McCartney impression got the way Macca cocks his head from side to side but not much more.
Which leaves us with the music. If there is a better way to see Mumford And Sons, the English folk band for people who prefer Lindisfarme to Fairport Convention, than three songs at Radio City Music Hall, I can't imagine what it is. The band has no drums but they do have a stand-up bass and a lead singer who looks like Stephen Fry meets Flounder from Animal House. I've always disliked them but while I had had enough well before their three songs were done, could actually hear the opening song "Little Lion Man" for once, and at least of (I think) "Roll Away Your Stone". By the end of the mini set everybody was dancing and if they ever open for Laura Marling I'll be sure to not arrive late.
Coldplay were better. I know I've said lots of mean things about the band, but I have never said they're bad live. Martin is energetic and handsome, all three songs were good, especially "Viva La Vida". They followed it with "Paradise and "Every Teardrop A Waterfall" and then threw confetti over every and left. I really am not so keen on My lo Xyloto, though maybe it is B- album, not a C-. I do like them live, Chris makes the point that he can lead a band every time he hits the stage.
American Comedians: B-
English Comedians: B+
Mumford And Sons: B+
Coldplay : A-
The Policeman's Ball: B+