Enfield's Controversial Performance at British Nurses' Benefit

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Enfield does a benefit for striking British nurses at a time when Thatcher is refusing to give them a raise
Enfield's provocative act resonates with both the nurses and the opposition
The Sun, a right-wing paper, and left-wing papers all claimed ownership of Enfield's act

In the political turmoil of mid-1990s Britain, a brilliant young comic named Harry Enfield set out to satirize the ideology and politics of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. His parodies became famous. He wrote and performed a vicious sendup of the typical Thatcherite nouveau riche buffoon. People loved it. And what happened? Exactly the opposite of what Enfield hoped would happen. In an age dominated by political comedy, “The Satire Paradox” asks whether laughter and social protest are friends or foes.

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