The Blind Stagger(a life in tickets)

Popularly known as the unfunny pair from The Mary Whitehouse Experience, I always preferred Punt & Dennis to their cooler brethren.  For a start, they actually performed as a double-act, which Newman & Baddiel only did now and again (for things like the History Today segments).  Also, they knew they were the uncool pair, and didn’t try to hide it.

This was a hilarious show… from what I remember, the only time I stopped laughing was at the interval, and even then I kept laughing while watching Paul D try to manoeuvre himself down the exceptionally steep stairs of the Pavilion’s Upper Balcony.

As well as a whole load of material that wasn’t shown on telly, all the hits from TMWE were here, including Mr Strange (the Milky Milky guy), dancing like your dad, and Hugh’s Teddy…

I remember buying the video of this tour when it came out too, and it never got old.  For years afterwards, Eddie M and I were repeating random lines of dialogue, like “Pop!”, “Oh p-p-p-pick up a penguin!  Oh f-f-f-fuck off!” and “Don’t follow me, or you’ll end up at my house.” to each other.

Incidentally, we also tried to get tickets for Baddiel & Newman (at the same venue a couple of weeks later) but it was sold out.  Told you they were cooler.  I did manage to see Rob Newman many years later, but have never seen David Baddiel, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as he’s now been the unfunny one in two different double-acts (with Messrs Newman and Skinner).

Posted under The Pavilion Theatre & Comedy |