Find out how critics have been reacting to Paul Hendy’s play which imagines Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper and Bob Monkhouse sharing a dressing room pre-show.
The Guardian: *** “these gags and routines are recreated with an affection – a heady sentimentality, let’s face it – that’s easy to submit to. And because these performers, channelling the prodigious skills of their forebears, offer up star turns that might win even curmudgeonly Cooper’s approval.”
Broadway World: ***** “Above all else (as I’m sure the three would agree) we’re indulged in the incomparable pleasure, that greatest of therapies, the opportunity to sit in a room and laugh and laugh and laugh in commune with the men who sacrificed much for that rare, joyous and uniquely human(e) experience.”
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “The Last Laugh is a gently funny, affectionate, poignant show, and as comfortable to watch as putting on your favourite slippers.”
The Telegraph: *** “Paul Hendy’s fond homage to Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse doesn’t dig deep, but it still cuts below the comic surface.”
Lou Reviews: **** “This is ultimately a (respectful) tribute show to three giants of comedy.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “The performances are nothing short of extraordinary. Damian Williams captures Tommy Cooper’s chaotic charm with impeccable timing, his physical comedy eliciting roars of laughter. Bob Golding channels Eric Morecambe’s mischievous energy with uncanny accuracy, while Simon Cartwright brings depth to Bob Monkhouse’s polished exterior, revealing the insecurities behind the showbiz persona, it’s also the best impersonation on the stage. Together, they create an electric dynamic that feels both authentic and magical.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “The overwhelming impression is that an evening in their company would be exhausting. But the three actors, who’ve all got form in these roles (Golding won an Olivier for the one-man play Morecambe), are so adept at capturing every distinctive physical tic and vocal inflection, that it almost seems like a kind of seance for comedy fans.”
London Theatre 1: **** “It might be easy for some to dismiss a show of this nature as an unnecessary venture into an era that has gone and will not return. But it was a pleasant reminder, or otherwise a pleasant revelation, that there was a time when ‘eff, cee and effing cee’ was never required to draw laughs from an audience, and the comedic appeal was more than sufficiently universal that it would be unlikely they would be cancelled even by today’s supposedly over-sensitive standards.”
The Upcoming: ***** “At once hilarious and heartrending, it’s a poignant rumination on the ephemeral nature of fame, and the pain that lies behind the eternal funnyman. With its flawless performances, The Last Laugh brings Cooper, Morecambe and Monkhouse back from the dead. So, to answer the former’s question, will anyone remember the comedians of yesteryear after they’re long dead? This must-see play is all the confirmation they’ll ever need.”
Fairy Powered Productions: ***** “Beautifully written and directed by the award-winning Paul Hendy, it stars three extravagantly gifted performers – Damian Williams (as Cooper), Bob Golding (as Morecambe), and Simon Cartwright (as Monkhouse) – revelling in an affectionate homage to their comedy heroes, and capturing their respective characters to perfection. The likenesses, particularly vocally, are simply uncanny, testament not only to the performers’ skill but to the whole production team (manager – Dan Kay).”
Time Out: *** “The Last Laugh is not an edgy play – but crucially its loving tribute to the gone-before-their-time old guard of British comedy has some edge. It could have been blandly affectionate, but there’s a keen intelligence and disquieting darkness behind the laughs.”
The Stage: *** “Gently amusing, sentimental tribute to three British comedy greats.”
Jonathan Baz Reviews: ***** “Hendy also directs with a perfectly nuanced touch, coaxing the gentlest manifestations of genius from all three amidst Lee Newby’s immaculately designed set.”
The Last Laugh continues to play at Noel Coward Theatre until the 22nd March before embarking on a UK tour.