Bermuda's top alternative comedy group will take a pot shot at anyone, regardless of their political party, Hamilton Lions heard this week.

Bruce Barritt of Not The Um Um Show said the Progressive Labour Party loved the satirical revue when the United Bermuda Party was in Government, but that UBP ministers also attended.

When new PLP ministers turned up at the show in November 1998 shortly after the election there were "certain things they liked, certain things they didn't. Some people can take a joke, some can't''.

Mr. Barritt said when the UBP had an overwhelming majority people said "we're so glad you're here because we don't have an opposition''.

He told the Lions Club lunch last week: "We are equal opportunities. Whoever needs to be slammed, we'll slam.'' The group is beginning to write material now which will still have to be fresh and relevant in November. Daily news stories will be forgotten, as will episodes such as Chief of Staff David Burch giving Premier Jennifer Smith a lengthy foot rub on an aeroplane - although some might still remember it.

Mr. Barritt, one of the original co-writers who started the show at the now closed Forty Thieves Club in 1984, said the sketches will only be performed every two years now because the cast has so many family and work commitments.

He said they derived their material from everyday situations which they record in little notebooks.

Mr. Barritt recalled overhearing a conversation in a hospital where one man mentioned that a friend had slipped into a coma. "What's a coma?'' the other asked. "A coma's like a really long, serious mice,'' he replied.

Mr. Barritt said the show was started to raise money for the Save Our Cinema Society and the decision to do a satire on the Um Um Show was inspired by the Not The Nine O'Clock News programme on BBC1.

The team has been threatened once with legal action after doing a satirical song which gave a strong clue to the identity of the victim, but Mr. Barritt refused to reveal any details.

The company has set up a limited company which it can "hide behind'' in the event of any libel actions, he added.

On a happier note, the show has raised $144,000 for charity since its inception and plays at fund-raising dinners.

Cereal joker: Not the Um Um Show writer Bruce Barritt tells Hamilton Lions yesterday that pyramid schemes have even spread to children's breakfast food.