The Last Laugh
The Last Laugh
Noel Coward Theatre
Review Complete
“They made the laughs last”
26th February 2025
Review
I remember seeing The Last Laugh when it was a 20 minute award winning short film, shown late at night on Channel 4. It has now transferred to the stage with the original cast, Damian Williams as Tommy Cooper, Simon Cartwright as Bob Monkhouse and Bob Golding as Eric Morcombe. Writer Paul Henry has extended it to 1 hour 20 minutes with no interval.
I remember seeing The Last Laugh when it was a 20 minute award winning short film, shown late at night on Channel 4. It has now transferred to the stage with the original cast, Damian Williams as Tommy Cooper, Simon Cartwright as Bob Monkhouse and Bob Golding as Eric Morcombe. Writer Paul Henry has extended it to 1 hour 20 minutes with no interval.
In a large tatty dressing room, that could be found in any provincial theatre, we see a wall full of framed photos. The faces staring back at us are the gods of comedy, Tony Hancock, Arthur Askey, Sid James, George Formby, Max Miller amongst others. What do they have in common? They are all dead.
The conceit of the piece is that Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Morecombe share the dressing room while getting ready for an unspecified show. It gives them a chance to banter, reminisce, joke with each other, show off and indulge in oneupmanship.
They individually do snippets of their acts and of their hero’s gags and limericks also collectively they raise the roof with rousing performances of songs like. My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock, Following You Around.
The really clever thing about the writing is that it is very, very, belly laughingly, rib ticklingly funny, yet it covers hard subjects. Their combined personal histories. Loneliness, rejection, stress, poverty, awkwardness, missing family, missing significant celebrations. Conquering/not conquering America. Bob has a disabled son, Tommy a wife plus Mary his girlfriend/assistant, Eric has a work partner, Ernie to consider.
They discuss, what is funny? Is it funny or “funny, funny”? Who owns the gag, the writer or the performer? Solo artists as opposed to double acts. Importance of props, timing, identity. An interesting insight into the world of show. Quite educational, but you don’t feel lectured to. All done with the sleight of hand.
The audience were all up on their feet at the end. I don’t know about the last laugh, they made the laughs last.
Reviewer: Paul St James
Photograph: Pamela Raith
We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.