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REVIEW | The Last Laugh, UK tour - Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
- Harry Brogan
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
Take Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse three of the most famous comedians to last a life time and bring them together in one play, and you get The Last Laugh.
Following on from its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a New York run and also a West End run too, The Last Laugh follows the three comedians backstage getting ready to go on stage, as they are reimagined, telling compelling stories and present a whole host of gags and jokes from their career.
The Last Laugh is written and directed by Paul Hendy and stars Damian Williams, Bob Golding and Simon Cartwright.
Paul Hendy writes a compelling yet simultaneously funny one act play. Running at 80 minutes (though the show does have an act 2 Q&A) writer Paul Hendy presents the three individual comedians very well opening the audience up to parts of their lives that you might of not known before, giving audiences a deeper depth to their favourite comedians. It's nice to hear the stories from each of the trio as it provides the audience a better understanding of them individually. Hendy writes many of the classical favourite jokes and routines by the three, while also delivering generalised comedy and friendly banter, with the comedy additionally being presented in Hendy's direction that gets the audience laughing. It has to be said that while yes, The Last Laugh is a play that will have a better connection to an older generation, especially with those who grew up and saw the comedians careers play out on screen and stage, but it does though, surprisingly, have a sense of multi-generational appeal to it with younger audience members still being able to laugh from time to time whether from the comical direction or dialogue itself. With times the comedy didn't 100% hit with me fully, but for me, personally, Hendy's dialogue feels somewhat like an insightful masterclass where the dialogue speaks about how to get laughs, the ownership of jokes, and the talk on who influenced the three's career's, with Hendy's writing being sometimes thoughtful and nice to hear. Hendy writes not your typical play about comedians, it is unlike other approaches, it includes a twist that is unexpected. The piece is paced nicely and feels balanced in the length to capture the lives of the comedians, It's short. It's sweet. But impactful. Hendy writes brilliant comedy while adding touches of heart.
Hendy's direction for the most part is natural, it's simple as it takes on the friendship of three people. Hendy mixes calm and energetic direction together, it's grounded when the deeper dialogue comes out when each of them tell a story, resulting in them being charming and draws you into listen on what's being said. Hendy's direction also has laughable and enjoyable moments too,
such as at the top of the show and Tommy Cooper's (Played by Damian Williams) entrance and Cooper's demonstration of his prop gate, to then Eric Morecambe's (Played by Bob Golding) musical numbers. Hendy's humorous direction has plenty for all to enjoy. Hendy directs the whole show with ease and brilliantly presents the twist well, making you question what is reality and present and what is not. Hendy's direction and book go hand in hand pleasingly well.
The loved comedians are portrayed by Damian Williams (Tommy Cooper), Bob Golding (Eric Morecambe) and Simon Cartwright (Bob Monkhouse) displays entertaining performances throughout, the trios energy being well received by the audience, each play off interactions with one and another, who try to contain out of character laughter.
Williams' performance as Tommy Cooper is excellent, easily having well comedy timing throughout. Williams takes on Cooper's routines brilliantly, getting laugh and laugh from the start, but Williams also brings out the deeper side to the character which allows more for the character of Tommy to be seen. Williams' performance is clever, well timed and enjoyable.
Bob Golding takes on Eric Morecambe, Golding's delightful performance, delivers energy that is clear especially performing the musical numbers and proves to be a hit with many members of the audience.
Simon Cartwright plays Bob Monkhouse, Cartwright shows Monkhouse's analytical side to comedy well, while though feeling calmer than Williams and Golding. Cartwright's performance is pleasing, with also Cartwright showing Monkhouse's personal off-stage life well.
The set by Lee Newby brings a theatre dressing room to life, it's small, it feels private for the characters, and is excellently designed. On the night there was problems with sound due to the mics not been on during the first 5 minutes or so making it slightly hard to hear the dialogue, but this was fixed as quickly as it could be.
The Last Laugh is a pleasing comedy play that delivers amusing moments throughout, it fills many audience members with enjoyment, with the cast of three talented performances taking on the greats. The Last Laugh is a lighthearted piece of comedy.
★★★★
The Last Laugh plays at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre until Saturday 5th of July before continuing its UK tour until 20th of September
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