Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra: Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD & BluRay

 Tim Minchin's magnificent Albert Hall performance with his Heritage Orchestra is rooted in the fusion of cunning language games and sophisticated methods of musical expression. It is also extremely funny. Each segment possesses enough comedic, intellectual and musical interest to stand alone - the fact that Minchin has managed to craft this material into a coherent whole is testament to his colossal talent. Religion, romance and prejudice are probed with subtlety and perception throughout, a feat made all the more outstanding by the fact that four and a half thousand seater venues tend to obliterate well worked out, nuanced routines.

Playfully goading his musicians into swing, classical, free-jazz and disco territories, Minchin is freed by the eclectic compositions to tease with devious ambiguities and inversions. Adopting mannerisms from Bob Dylan's faith songs,'Sam's Mum' is an eloquent reflection upon the efficacy of prayer ; critics who like to reduce the philosophically-informed comic to the role of dogmatic God-basher should observe the artistry of the set-up. A piece on parenting is brilliantly timed, as is a perplexing, intelligent treatment of sacred books . So, a new benchmark is set. Live at the Royal Albert Hall is what arena comedy can be.