Review: THE LAST LAUGH, Richmond Theatre - Tour
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
For a certain generation, the three gentlemen in this play were the very best of British comedians throughout the sixties, seventies and early eighties. This reviewer was privileged to see Eric Morecambe (1926-1984) on stage and in a TV studio on several occasions and saw Bob Monkhouse (1928-2003) in cabaret. When Tommy Cooper (1921-1984) slumped fatally to the floor at the Her Majesty’s Theatre in an ITV prime time broadcast, we were watching the show on TV. Tragically, Eric also died in the venue where he has just performed with Stan Stennett in 1984. This affectionate and fascinating play, written and directed by Paul Hendy, is a fitting tribute to these wonderful legendary performers and masters of the comic art. His brilliant script explores what made the comedy work and the differences between their approaches.
The scene is set as we gaze on the dilapidated theatre dressing room with a succession of famous comic songs from the period playing out including Benny Hill’s 1971 hit ‘Ernie’, ‘The Fastest Milkman in the West’, and Terry Scott’s 1962 hit ‘My Brother’. On the wall are black and white photos of some of great comics that proceeded the three we are about to meet, with likes of Tony Hancock (1924-1968). Arthur Askey (1900-1982) and Max Miller (1894-1963). It sets up the nostalgic look back at what made them great comics, as well as what inspired them to perform. It is suggested that three things make a great comic: energy, clear and simple delivery, and to “let the audience in”, but it also reveals that it was much more complex than that.
Each has a different approach to comedy. Cooper (recreated by Damian Williams) has a large physical presence and only has to pause and gaze out at the audience to get a laugh, which he does from his first appearance dressed in large chicken feet (“they smell fowl”). Monkhouse (played by Simon Cartwright, who knew Bob for eighteen years after he appeared on “Bob says Opportunity Knocks”) is more analytical , polishing his one-line gags as he records them in his joke books. Morecambe (brilliantly recreated by Bob Goulding, who captures every nuanced mannerism of the star) was a natural funny man but worked best in partnership with Wise and with a great script writer creating his material.
If you knew the work of the three stars as we did, then every line is a carefully crafted reference to some business, sketch or line that we still recall forty years later. Cooper pours his drink with a “bottle, cup, cup, bottle” line, which fans will recognise as one of his tricks that went spectacularly wrong. Morecambe references “playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in right order”, the best line in a memorable sketch with conductor Andre Previn in 1971. Monkhouse tells how he still has sex at 58, just a short walk from where he lives. Each reflects their own style of comedy, but the fact that we remember them still for that style shows the legendary status they reached. There is real poignancy too when they recall Monkhouse’s comedy partner Denis Goodwin who committed suicide in 1975, or his son Gary who had cerebral palsy, and of course, there are multiple references to the heart conditions that eventually killed Eric and Tommy within a month of each other.
The eighty-minute show is a joyous delight for a generation (although millennials may struggle to recognise most of the gags) and is added to by a Q&A that follows in which the three performers share their deep love and admiration for those they play. This wonderful nostalgic look back captures the spirit of these three comics and reveals why “dying is easy, comedy is hard” and the toll that the desire to succeed and make people laugh was on each of them. It was a privilege to have seen them live in the eighties and amazing to still be celebrating their quality forty years later. They are true comedy legends, or as Cooper might have noted, well at least two of them were!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
