User Reviews

Long before 'Father Ted' hit the screens, Ireland had a comedy icon in the shape of Dave Allen, one of the funniest deadpan comedians ever to grace a television screen.

'Dave Allen At Large' was his finest hour. It was a traditional sketch show with irreverent sketches interspersed with monologues from Allen sitting before the studio audience with a glass of whisky in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Most memorably, much of the comedy had Allen bashing Catholicism ( note that Allen was a Catholic himself ).

Some of my favourite sketches included a middle aged couple sitting morosely in their living room when all of a sudden their electric fire suddenly moves itself out of the room, leading the wife to remark ''the fire has just gone out!'', a man taking a bath only to end up being sucked down the plug hole when he tries to drain the water, a death row prisoner being given a cigarette as per his last request: ''A cigarette is no good with a light!'' he says to the executioner, to which the executioner responds: ''I told you, you only get one request!'', though the best had a man about to enter a confessional booth with a sign above the door reading 'Forgivable Sins', only for his conscience to get the better of him and steer him towards the booth where above a sign reads 'Unforgivable Sins'. As he enters the booth, he drops through the floor straight down into hell! Each edition would end with Allen saying to the audience ''Goodnight and may your god go with you!''.

Allen's regular supporting cast included Ronnie Brody, Chris Serle, Michael Sharvell Martin, Jacqueline Clarke. Scriptwriters included Allen himself, Terry Ravenscroft, Peter Vincent, Austin Steele and Colin Bostock Smith,

The final series ended in 1978, with a few seasonal specials appearing until the mid '80's. He did a stand-up based sketch show for the BBC in 1990 and one for ITV in 1993 but neither rivalled anywhere near the quality of 'At Large', Dave Allen died in 2005.

To conclude, 'Dave Allen At Large' was wonderful stuff that set a standard that wouldn't be matched until the arrival of 'Paul Merton: The Series' in 1991.

1971 was a vintage year for B.B.C. comedy all right, what with 'The Two Ronnies' getting underway, and Dave Allen beginning his marvellous, long-running series.

'Large' combined sketches with monologues, the latter delivered by the man himself, smartly dressed, seated in a chair, cigarette in one hand, a glass of whisky ( or something ) perched on a nearby table. His style was all his own. He was cool. Unique ( With more and more modern comedy performed to speed, just think if Dave were appearing on television today, his act would probably be regarded as 'too slow'. It used to take him three minutes just to light a cigarette and get comfortable. ) He told stories on a wide variety of topics, but mainly about religion as he had had a strict Catholic upbringing in Ireland, and took delight in mocking the subject. On one occasion, he even told a creepy horror tale, and held his audience spellbound.

A number of stock characters evolved in the sketches, including a would-be revolutionary constantly trying to blow up 'El Presidente', and a Pope-like figure always being carried around in a chair. One of my favourite items had monks arguing over porridge, a dispute culminating in a messy fight. Another had rival undertakers' firms competing with each other to see who could get to the cemetery first. And there was a 'Robin Hood' spoof too.

He would sign off with "Goodnight, and may your God go with you.". Note the 'your God', and not just 'God'.

Aiding and abetting him were a number of talented comic performers such as Michael Sharvell-Martin, the late Ronnie Brody, the late Peter Hawkins, and the attractive Jacqueline Clarke. Future 'That's Life' presenter Chris Serle was a regular in the first series. The catchy theme tune was 'Blarney's Stoned' by Alan Hawkshaw.

When the D.V.D. finally appears, why not reacquaint yourself with one of the funniest men ever to grace a television screen?

The show is akin to "Monty Python's Flying Circus" in that it was very uneven. Dave Allen put out a huge variety of jokes, presumably with the idea that at least some of them would work. Which was the ultimate effect.

Unlike Monty Python, there were no animations, and the humor was more conventional and less silly (for the most part). Also, Dave Allen was clearly the star and boss, unlike Monty Python whose members spread the work. The skits were on a huge variety of scenarios and themes, more than Monty Python would do, though the show's focus was largely on pop entertainment such as old Westerns or spy movies or sword-and-sandals epics or science fiction.

So how did things work out? Some moments were very funny while others bombed. Perhaps this was inevitable in any variety show.