REVIEW: The Last Laugh, Theatre Royal
Comedy greats remembered on stage
They’ve recently uncovered a time capsule at the Theatre Royal and here’s something it perhaps should have contained.
Paul Hendy’s play is an affectionate tribute to an era when Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse were household names, brilliant on stage and TV giants when channels could be counted on one hand.
Funny to think they’re gone, 40 plus years ago in the case of the first two and 20 plus even in Bob’s case.
The setting, existing firmly in Hendy’s imagination, is a dressing room before a show, mirrors for make-up (lots for Bob, champion of the bottled perma-tan) and with an unsettling crackle which makes the lights flash before the occupants appear.
Then suddenly there’s Tommy in fez and underwear, soon to be joined by the others, Bob seemingly straight from the golf club and Eric all glasses, pipe and trilby (no Ernie, though).
The first thing to say is how brilliantly they’re brought to life, physically and vocally; Damian Williams gruffly shambolic as Tommy; Bob Golding with all Eric’s quips and mannerisms; and Simon Cartwright simply uncanny, Monkhouse to a tee – and he wasn’t one for props or a quirky delivery.
They chat amongst themselves, flexing their gags (Monkhouse claiming to have written most of them). Friendly rivals, they discuss the nature of comedy, Monkhouse explaining how he chisels a gag to perfection before Cooper’s bumbling response brings the house down.
Inevitably, with Eric present, the relative merits of double acts comes up. How funny is Ern? It’s a question that did get asked.
Loyal to the end, Eric insists he couldn’t have gone on without him.
Tommy Cooper, Bob decided, had a head start because, a bit like Eric, he simply had funny bones.
The point is well made in Williams’ brilliant portrayal. You couldn’t look at him beneath the fez, clutching those ludicrous props, and not laugh.
But how effortless is it for a clown to keep the laughter coming? Cooper (Williams) recalls the time it got to him and he sat sobbing on a bench, only for passers-by to laugh, assuming it was part of an act.
Later, and more gravely, laughter rang in his ears as the lights dimmed for the very last time – another great comic to be added to the imaginary dressing room’s hall of fame.
After the interval comes a jovial Q&A with the actors as themselves, sharing with the audience their feelings for the icons they’re playing on stage and interviewed by Richard Hodder whose terrifying role, as cover, is to step into the shoes of any one of them should they become indisposed.
They spoke of all the comedians who have been to see the show, curious, no doubt, but also paying homage to comedy greats. They certainly set the bar high.
The Last Laugh runs until Saturday, June 28. Tickets from the Theatre Royal box office.