Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
Back in 2016, Paul Hendy wrote, directed, and produced a twenty-minute short film called “The Last Laugh.” The film imagines a meeting between three British comedy greats in a theatre dressing room. Last year, this was adapted into a stage play and stole the show at the Edinburgh Fringe. It has since moved to the West End, New York, and is now on a UK Tour. James and I were lucky enough to attend the press night at The Alexandra in Birmingham last night, where we were thoroughly entertained for an evening.
The play features a cast of just three actors, reprising their roles from the original (and award-winning!) short film. Damian Williams plays Tommy Cooper, Simon Cartwright plays Bob Monkhouse, and Bob Golding plays Eric Morecambe. All three actors have previously played their comedy heroes in other plays, and now they have come together to give us an insight into the backstage lives of some of our most famous comedians.
“The Last Laugh” is a “reimagining” of the three comedians’ lives, peppered with references to both their most famous and memorable moments, as well as their impressions of the comedians who inspired them. With some of their most recognisable mannerisms, jokes, and even props, the three actors step into their shoes so well that you could almost feel like the spirits of Tommy, Bob, and Eric were in the theatre with us.
The audience is kept laughing throughout the show, with everything from titters to huge bursts of laughter breaking out every few minutes. However, it’s not all funny moments, or even “funny funny” moments. There are many touching moments, and the play ends on a very poignant note, revealing the true meaning of the title.
The Last Laugh is a perfect tribute to some of our most missed comedians. It offers a glimpse behind the curtain, revealing their thoughts, insecurities, and self-perceptions about themselves and comedy in general, all while keeping us entertained and laughing. It’s a joyous delight to watch, and you could see how many people in the audience recognised different moments and had various emotional reactions to them – plenty of belly laughs too!
At times, the show was bittersweet and nostalgic, and it definitely appeals most to the older generation who have fond memories of seeing these comedians live or on TV. Those of us who are young enough to have seen less of them, having only really watched with our families as children, will experience moments where the audience obviously remembers something we don’t!
Damien Williams definitely channels the same kind of stage presence as Tommy Cooper, managing to have the audience in fits of laughter just by standing on stage and not saying a word. Bob Golding was a perfect Eric Morecambe, and Simon Cartwright has his act of Bob Monkhouse ‘chiselled’ down to a fine piece of art indeed.
Act Two consists of a Q&A session with the three actors on stage, taking questions gathered from the audience during the interval and reminiscing about their own memories and experiences. I found this absolutely fascinating, and even this was laced with funny moments throughout as the actors’ own personalities and sense of humour shone through on stage. Finishing with a song dedicated to Birmingham’s own Ozzy last night, it was definitely a great way to spend a few hours of our day.
The Last Laugh is currently playing at The Alex until Saturday 26th July. After this, it will continue its tour around the UK for the next couple of months. With tickets available from just £15, it’s definitely worth going if you’ve ever enjoyed some good comedy!
