Funny, poignant play about three comedy giants heads for Bradford

Yahoo

19 hours ago

IF you could listen in on a conversation between three comedy legends in a dressing-room, what would unfold?
The Last Laugh, a funny, nostalgic, poignant play, re-imagines a gathering of three of Britain's great comedy heroes - Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse.
Direct from the West End, the play is heading for Bradford's Alhambra Theatre, starring Bob Golding as Eric Morecambe, Damian Williams as Tommy Cooper and Simon Cartwright as Bob Monkhouse, all reprising their roles following the Edinburgh run.
Bob starred as Eric Morecambe in West End hit Morecambe, and was nominated for an Olivier Award.
Damian played Tommy Cooper in the tour of Being Tommy Cooper and for the past 17 years has been the resident Dame in Sheffield Lyceum pantos, winning Best Pantomime Dame at The Great British Pantomime Awards.
Simon has been an actor and impressionist since the 1980s. He toured the UK in the play Howerd's End, playing legendary comedian Frankie Howerd.
Damian Williams (Tommy Cooper), Bob Golding (Eric Morecambe) and Simon Cartwright (Bob Monkhouse). Image: Pamela Raith Photography
Ahead of The Last Laugh's run at the Alhambra, the cast chatted about the show.
* What are your own memories of the three comics?
Bob Golding: 'I remember a Christmas special where Eric and Ernie were dressed as turkeys. I was mesmerised at their ability to make not just me laugh but my parents, my younger brother and my grandmother who'd chuckle and mutter 'silly bu**ers'.'
Damian Williams: 'I have so many fond memories of these men; watching them at Christmas with the family, sitting with my dad watching Tommy Cooper and seeing him crying with laughter. I grew up with them and was certainly influenced by them. Tommy is the reason I got into the business.'
Simon Cartwright: 'All three were legends of British light entertainment. I enjoyed watching Bob Monkhouse presenting in the early 70s - I'd have been six-years-old - programmes like The Golden Shot then into the 80s with Bob's Full House. Fond memories of happier family environments when we'd all watch stuff together.'
Simon Cartwright as Bob Monkhouse. Image: Pamela Raith Photography
* Without giving too much away, what is The Last Laugh about - and why does it resonate with audiences today?
Bob: 'Put simply, The Last Laugh is what happens when you put three comedy legends in a dressing-room and lock the door. You've got Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecambe putting the world to rights, one laugh at a time. It's a love letter to comedy, to friendship and to those glorious gags that never get old - unlike us!
'But it's not just about jokes, it's about legacy, life and how laughter carries us through the darkest moments. Audiences come in expecting a chuckle and leave with a lump in their throat. It reminds people why comedy matters, especially in today's world where we could all do with a bit more joy and a lot more heart.'
Damian: 'Watching The Last Laugh is the closest you'll get to spending 80 minutes in the company of these great men. It's about the art of comedy, the relationship between these three men and what's it's really like to be funny for a living.
'It's full of laughs, nostalgia warmth and love.'
Damian Williams as Tommy Cooper. Image: Pamela Raith Photography
Simon: 'I think it reflects on a time when families watched television together. Nowadays that's rare. I think people remember when they sat down together, the halcyon days. Looking back to the 60s and 70s, people seem to think they were happier times.'
* The show has played the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, London's West End and New York. What has the response been like?
Bob: 'It's been an absolute riot - in the best possible way! Edinburgh? Huge laughs and standing ovations. The West End? Packed houses, five-star reviews, audiences who didn't want to leave the theatre. And New York? They loved it - even if they didn't know who Eric was!
'We've had people in tears, happy ones! They've told us how much it meant to see their comedy heroes brought back to life. The joy is infectious. Every night is like a celebration, not just of these men, but what it means to really laugh.'
Bob Golding as Eric Morecambe. Image: Pamela Raith Photography (Image: Pamela Raith)
Damian: 'It really has struck a chord with people. It's blown our minds.'
Simon: 'We've had a remarkable reaction, getting standing ovations and moving people, particularly men of a certain age becoming quite emotional. I think they can apply memories from their youth, and somehow connect with these comedians.
'It was a time when comedy was more innocent, I think people appreciate that these comedians weren't particularly political or had an agenda other than being funny and making us feel good.'
* How do you find the balance between playing a caricature and making the roles your own?
Bob: 'It's all about capturing the spirit of them and avoiding cliche, impressions or over used gestures. With every character I play there'll be an element of myself in it. I've played Eric for over 16 years now, my connection and respect for him has become stronger. I've never lost sight of the fact that I'm on the coat tail of his greatness.'
Damian: 'I wanted to play Tommy as the man he was. It's been interesting to study him and learn about who he was. The three of us have worked incredibly hard to capture them without doing a caricature.'
Simon: 'I knew Bob Monkhouse personally, so I can draw on what he was like off-stage. These are three vulnerable men who share the love of making people laugh, and they get there in different ways. It's about finding truth rather than trying to create an impression.'
* What do you hope audiences take away from the play?
Bob: 'What we've found is that people of a certain age have left in a bit of an emotional state. They've laughed and cried; I think it awakens a more innocent time in our youth when elder family members were still with us. It's a feelgood piece of theatre and a reassuringly British experience.'
Damian: 'Audiences are transported back to a time when they sat as a family and watched these great comedians on TV. We can feel the love as soon as the play starts.'
Simon: 'I hope audiences take away a new insight into the three comedians. I hope that a younger generation, who might not have seen them before, walk away with an interest. I hope for the older generations we're a warm reminder of a bygone age - the golden age of British comedy!'
* The Last Laugh is at the Alhambra from September 16-20.
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