Finally got to see Billy Connolly live and it was like hooking up with an old friend! He entertained us, non-stop, for two and a half hours with nothing other than a glass of water and a stool (unused). He had us in stitches for much of that time and we certainly supported him loudly (or, at the very least, empathised) with his views about politics, politicians, corruption, religion, hypocrisy, the "Nanny State" and numerous other social issues.
As an observer, story-teller, mime, actor and lover of life and all its quirks and ironies, he really takes some beating! His relationship with his audience, his passion, his talent and communication skills are awesome. His impact in Comedy has been immense, I believe, having recently seen Eddie Izzard live too. I was struck by the similarities - the rants, the raves, the subtleties, the use of (often bad) language, the direct contact with audience, the warmth, the sensitivity and the meanderings off track (then nailing the returns to focus) - and by the warmth of audience response to both. Connolly however, with his long track record, is still the master and still at the top of his game!
Stunning! I would certainly encourage people to see him live, though some would need to brace themselves for a bit of a roller-coaster and some challenging views!