Tag Archives: The Last Laugh

‘The Last Laugh’ (Venue 17, Aug 7-11, 13-25)

Posted in 5*, EdFestivals 2024, Rated: Outstanding by

“Damian Williams as Cooper delivers a masterclass in pathos done proper.”

Editorial Rating: 5 Stars (Outstanding)

We enter to find ourselves backstage in a somewhat very shabby dressing room. The decor may have faded but the stars of yesteryear are shining bright as Tommy Cooper enters. Thomas Frederick Cooper (1921-84) was a giant in every sense of the word To fully appreciate his stature we must stand on the shoulders of other giants. The towering titans of comedy selected to join Cooper wherever it is that he is, by writer and director Paul Hendy, are Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse.

In the hour of stage traffic that follows we get singing, we get gags, we get musings on the meaning of life, we get an insight into the sheer chuffing effort that effortless laughter demands. Hendy’s script is a vehicle for three finely honed impersonations of three instantly recognisable and immensely loved and respected icons of British popular culture. ‘Impersonations’ is a clumsy word which entirely fails to describe the acting talent, insight, and ability on offer. This is a triptych of heavy-lifting portraiture which captures not only the individuals but also their relationships with one another in this super-select creative group.

Damian Williams as Cooper delivers a masterclass in pathos done proper. There is an edge and edginess to his performance, the ideal counterweight to Cooper’s larger-than-life utter daftness which Williams delivers by the leaky bucket full. Simon Cartwright as Bob Monkhouse is pitch perfect as he perfectly pitches every familiar gesture and on-screen mannerism. Bob Golding, reprising his take on Eric Morecambe, completes the picture with that characterful character study which has been celebrated as a Fringe favourite.

This is a show with big personalities requiring big performances and yet it is perfectly balanced. Even when the discord and tension are heating up, the drama stays steady and the laughs come fast and furious. Here is a play that does exactly what it says on the tin and does it really, really, really well. Get your dinner coats and fezes on and go see this!

 

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EdFringe Talk: The Last Laugh

Posted in *Written Interviews, EdFestivals 2024 by

image of event

“Directing a play at the Fringe can be challenging because of the restrictions but I loved the camaraderie between all the different performers and creatives.”

WHO: Paul Hendy

WHAT: “The Last Laugh sees three legendary comedians – Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse – sitting in a dressing room, discussing the secret of life, death, comedy and what it means to be funny. Written and directed by the award-winning Paul Hendy and starring Edinburgh Fringe-legend Bob Golding as Morecambe, Damian Williams as Cooper and Simon Cartwright as Monkhouse, The Last Laugh is warm, funny, nostalgic and poignant. Not to be missed.”

WHERE: Assembly George Square Studios – Studio One (Venue 17) 

WHEN: 13:20 (70 min)

MORE: Click Here!

Is this your first time to Edinburgh?

No, The Last Laugh will be my second time directing at the fringe and my first time as a writer. I can’t wait to bring the play to Edinburgh as I’m such a huge fan of the festival. Last year, I directed ‘Lena’, a play with music about the tragic life of child star, Lena Zavaroni. I loved the whole Fringe experience. Directing a play at the Fringe can be challenging because of the restrictions but I loved the camaraderie between all the different performers and creatives.

What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?

The biggest lesson I learnt was that your play/show has to be something that people want to see. It sounds obvious but the audiences have so much choice so I think the subject matter of the show has to try to entice people in. Hopefully we have that with The Last Laugh

Tell us about your show.

It’s a brand new play. In it, three legendary comedians, Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse sit in a dressing room discussing the secret of life, death, comedy and what it means to be funny… really funny! It’s warm, nostalgic and poignant. I wrote ‘The Last Laugh’ and I’m also directing and producing it. I based the story on a short film I directed a few years ago which did very well on the film festival circuit – it won Best Film at the Manchester Film Festival, Best Comedy Drama at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Oxford Film Festival. I’m a huge comedy fan and I think anyone who loves comedy will love this play. We’re planning a UK tour of the play in 2025.

What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?

We’re also producing a totally different show called ‘Shantify’ – a group of West End leading men sing show tunes, rock classics and pop bangers in the style of sea-shanties. The singers are all incredibly talented; it’s brilliant fun and I think people at the Fringe will really enjoy it.

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