Writing a comedy show based around the current US political system has given an American comedian more material than he knows what to do with.

Rich Hall, the quick-witted stand up comedian who is the master of the dead-pan put down, is bringing his latest touring show, ’Rich Hall’s Hoedown’ to the island.

The first half of the show is dedicated to the latest pitfalls to be-fall the USA under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Rich, who has a knack for skewering his targets with precise and acerbic observations, is happy to mine the current political situation for all the comedy gold he can find.

’I love the fact that Trump is President,’ said Rich, who promised after the 2016 election that he would be spending more time in Britain than America.

’It’s great for comedy, even though it’s dreadful for the rest of the world and humankind.

’You can’t avoid talking about Trump, because he infiltrates every part of our world like a weevil. He’s like an egg sac which has bored into every aspect of our lives.

’But people expect me to talk about it.’

One of the problems he finds, when using a figure like Trump as a target for his comedy, is that his shows frequently get overtaken by the quickly-changing events.

’My material keeps changing because the guy changes every day on a whim,’ he said.

’No Trump joke has any shelf life at all. It’s good for three hours, then it’s out the window.

’Jokes about the wall, for instance, are so last year. But at least it keeps you on your toes.’

Those who are familiar with Rich Hall will know that he is a big music fan, and includes some of his hilarious songs in his sets as often as he can.

One of his early comedy characters was a rough jailbird Texan singer songwriter, Otis Lee Crenshaw, and it was this musical act that won him the prestigious Perrier award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2000.

In his ’Hoedown’, Rich sings a handful of songs he’ll have written on the night, based on chats he has had with the audience during the first half.

’The people in the front row realise that they will be targets, but they will also be serenaded,’ he said.

’I like to find a couple who have been married for a long time and write a song about how they first met.

’You have to keep your mind open to improvise. The best moments come when the audience say to themselves, "I didn’t see that coming".

’Sometimes I stumble, but that can be funnier than when you nail it.

’You paint yourself into such a corner that the audience think, "How is he ever going to get out of that?" And then you escape.

’It’s a real challenge, but that’s what makes it funny.’

Tickets for ’Rich Hall’s Hoedown’, which takes place at the Gaiety Theatre tonight (Friday), from 8pm, are on sale, priced £17.50, and are available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety Box office, on 600555, or online from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

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