After a career spanning forty four years Ben Elton figured he’d have mellowed by now, but no, in Authentic Stupidity he’s as raucous as ever. We are, he contends, the idiot branch of the the ape family tree and after listening to his takedowns of our obsessions with the mundane and ridiculous things we do, our capriciousness, greed and environment wrecking ways of living, I’m inclined to agree with him.
Using a masterful mix of pointed critique, hyperbole and of course a smattering of stereotypes Elton wickedly points out that while we are very creative we use our inventions for the most simplistic and stupid things. One outrageous example asked us to imagine what people use vacuum cleaners for other than cleaning. I’m sure I don’t have to explain that one any further.
He is well known for his political satire, and sure, he went there a few times. He inevitably made scathing remarks about Trump and even made a joke about how Rishi Sunak should have shot Elon Musk when he had the chance, but most of his comedy was about getting old, the generational divide, the dangers of social media and AI, and wokeness has damaged left wing politics.
I agreed with him when he said Roger Moore was the best James Bond and he hilarious ripped in to ‘miserable’ Daniel Craig whom he said just seem depressed in every film. This led on to a hilarious piss take of sexual harassment.
He began his show asking ‘who’d want to share an evening with an old git?’ And despite saying it was boring to talk about a man ageing he did a lot of it. There followed a series of references to bodily functions and the inevitable grumpiness that comes with getting too old. His views on euthanasia were funny and on point. I’d recommend if you have qualms about the issue don’t go see this show as you will find it triggering.
My favourite moments were the hilarious if stereotypical takedowns of various generations but he seemed to really savour throwing shade on Millennials and Gen Z.
And this is where things get interesting because though he has has bludgeoned the right wing for most of his career, Elton seemed to take most delight in bashing those younger generations and their supposedly ‘woke’ attitudes rather than those from the right. Yes there were some potshots at Trump and Musk et al, but the issues of the left including intersectionality and cancel culture seemed to get draw his ire. I wondered why he, and other liberals such as Bill Maher would target certain left wing liberals. I think it might be because he thinks the right are a lost cause and have already gone down the rabbit hole but the left might still be saved if it eschews some of its most intolerant and ridiculous posturing – food for thought.
All up Authentic Stupidity was a clever look at society, full of sharp critique and plenty of fart jokes this was a fascinating, funny, and thought provoking evening.
BEN ELTON
AUTHENTIC STUPIDITY NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2025
NEW SHOW – CLARENCE ST THEATRE, HAMILTON – SATURDAY APRIL 19
NEW SHOW – SIR HOWARD MORRISON CENTRE, ROTORUA – TUESDAY APRIL 22
NEW SHOW – BAYCOURT ADDISON THEATRE, TAURANGA – WEDNESDAY APRIL 23
MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, WELLINGTON – SATURDAY APRIL 26
KIRI TE KANAWA THEATRE, AUCKLAND – MONDAY APRIL 28
NEW SHOW – NAPIER MUNICIPAL THEATRE, NAPIER – WEDNESDAY APRIL 30
NEW SHOW – TOWN HALL, DUNEDIN – THURSDAY MAY 1
TOWN HALL, CHRISTCHURCH – FRIDAY MAY 2
