Brian Rudman: The Len and Banksie roadshow hits town

The candidates. Photos / Doug Sherring, Steven McNicholl, Jason Dorday

Thursday night, the Len and Banksie roadshow finally hit the Town Hall concert chamber for a one-night stand after weeks of dress rehearsals around the suburbs.

By now, they know each other's lines backwards - and at times have sport trying to steal the punchlines.

Supporting them were a subdued Andrew Williams and pushy young newcomer, Colin Craig.

As for master of ceremonies Paul Holmes, at times he got so wound up in the banter, you could have thought he'd forgotten he'd given up his own plans to stand for the Super City mayoralty.

When John Banks lost his voice in a burst of coughing, the MC couldn't resist asking him if he'd been drinking.

When Mr Williams was trying to explain how he supported the opening up of the controversial council-controlled organisation board meetings to the public, Holmes interrupted with exasperated sighs about screaming women with cowboy suits bursting in and the rabble screaming.

When Mr Brown was enthusing about infrastructure spends, like rail to the airport, it was Holmes, not Mr Brown's more frugal rivals, who denounced it as "profligate socialism".

Still, given it was all something of a well-seasoned stage act, with the audience there to complete the performance, it was good, well-behaved fun.

Though whether anything new emerged from the show is doubtful. Apart, that is, that Mr Banks' new friend Hamish Keith is being lined up to be a future Mayor Banks' personal art adviser, proof that when it comes to appointments, the reformed Mr Banks will be blind to a person's politics.

To me, the way the three old mayors all crossed their hearts and hoped to die at the thought of the political leanings of a person affecting their appointment as either a CCO board member or a member of their personal staff was when the show turned into true fairytale.

Mr Banks, for example, declaring that to be a Super City, "we have to leave politics and cronyism at the door", and going weepy-eyed about the wondrous relationship he had with Dr Bruce Hucker, his City Vision arch rival during his first term as mayor, richly earned the guffaws it got. The others weren't any better.

One thing seems certain. Both the front runners, Len Brown and John Banks, will be out with their spades starting the inner-city rail loop from day one. That's if they can persuade the Government to join in.

Who won? For the pushy new boy award, Colin Craig, hands down. No one could shut him up. Andrew Williams, asked where his support would go were he to withdraw, nominated Len Brown. The big two wisely rubbished the query, Mr Brown calling it stupid, but eventually he returned Mr Williams' compliment.

As for a winner? Like the polls, it was too close to call.