Comedy Review: Jenny Eclair, Royal Court

Nov 6 2007 by Peter Grant, Liverpool Daily Post

SHE is a radio and TV presenter, author and all-round “grumpy old woman”.

On stage, she is like the female equivalent of Billy Connolly .

Jenny was concluding her 35-date UK tour in Liverpool, a place she earned her stand- up spurs.

It was her first trek since 2001 called Because I Forgot To Get A Pension Tour and it showed just what an accomplished comedienne she is.

The title is as cheeky as Peter Kay’s “Mum Wants a Bungalow Tour.”

Following Rob Deering’s sparkling support act, Jenny arrived on stage to a set featuring a couch that Barbara Cartland would have been proud of.

A huge backdrop featured a giant eclair.

She won the women in the audience over immediately while the men (me included) winced at every one of her below-the-belt put-downs.

Whether discussing the menopause or evil en suite bathrooms, her timing was impeccable.

Book clubs, watching TV while over-indulging in wine; and cruel but funny remarks about Carol Vorderman and Joan Collins had the crowd on her side throughout.

She referred to the audience as one person: “Isn’t that right, Liverpool?” she asked on many occasions.

A sketch about Northern mums was inspired.

Jenny now admits she can’t do now what she did during her drinking days, but she can still put it away.

Her delivery is so motormouth that a heckler couldn’t get a word in edgeways, and – anyway – who would be brave or daft enough to try?

She finished her set with some jokes about sex and a bizarre dream sequence involving an actor and a fish supper.

Yes, it was that kind of night.

I will look at Ms Eclair in a new light from now on and I, like the sell-out audience, was happy to contribute to her well-earned pension fund. I just hope she doesn’t retire just yet.