Review: PAUL ZERDIN - PUPPETMAN, Leicester Square Theatre - Tour
Paul Zerdin arrives in London, as he says “to a basement in Soho”, after a thirty-one-night UK tour over the last few months and ahead of his annual appearance at the London Palladium in the “biggest and best” (in his publicity’s words) pantomime in December (his 29th pantomime).
He describes himself as the UK’s number 1 ventriloquist and was, of course, the 2015 America’s Got Talent winner but in recent years, Max Fulham with Grandad and Jamie Leahy with Chuck (a BGT finalist) might challenge him for that title .
His ‘Puppetman' tour with his “sponge” family is a chance to see if he can still lay claim to that title. It is a long time since his first TV appearance in 1993 and it must be frustrating that the skills and art of ventriloquism do not get more TV exposure these days but on stage at Leicester Square Theatre, he draws a big crowd of devotees and delivers excellent value for money with his two hour show .
His whole “sponge” family is there. The charmingly naughty Sam, the street talking Urban Fox, his bouncing baby, Roger the American bodyguard, Albert the 96-year-old magician and finally the involvement of a couple from the audience, Tony and Wendy, for his human vent act. It’s peppered with very adult innuendo delivered with a smile and sparkling eyes and spot on comic timing, which add to the delighted audience’s laughter. His best gag involves a dentist and two Viagra…will leave that with you!
Zerdin’s skills as a ventriloquist are awesome, switching swiftly and cleverly between voices and showing off some of his tricks. The material has been honed over many years and is familiar to many in the audience, but the delivery is so sharp, and the voices so convincing that he gets away with even the oldest elements. You will see many of the routines in pantomime this year including the audience participation that focuses down onto one person (don’t sit in the front row: you have been warned!), the Abbott and Costello routine Mr Who, Mr What and Mr Idontknow, and plenty of innuendo which are staples of pantomime. It is remarkable how skilfully he delivers these routines alone on stage, with or without his “sponge” friends.
He adds some simple magic tricks which are enhanced by the involvements of his sponge assistants, but it is the ventriloquism that stands out. It’s extraordinary to see him do a routine in which Sam hums and Paul beat boxes or where the dummy has its own animated dummy, and both talk to him, or the brilliant Mr Who Mr What and Mr Idontknow sketch. These are masterful demonstrations. The video elements provide short gags that allow him to reset on stage. The material does need refreshing: there is only one real topical gag and he does end one sketch with “we need a better ending to that” and he is right! The couple from the audience, despite his protestations, react with their eyes and hands in a way that says that they are plants or at least are very familiar with the routine, but it remains a very funny end to the show.
There is a strong sense that the audience are big fans and have come to see his familiar greatest hits show, so whether you have seen him before or not, there are just two more shows this year. If you miss them, you will have to book for the Palladium to see his best bits. But does he do enough to confirm that he remains the best ventriloquist in the UK? Oh yes, he does!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
Paul Zerdin: Puppetman plays at Leicester Square Theatre until tomorrow (12 November), with further information here: