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.”
Where: Assembly – George Square Studios
When: 31 Jul, 1-25 Aug (not 12)
Ticket link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/last-laugh
All four in the team tell us more about the show and the real characters they depict.
What are you looking forward to the most at Fringe?
Paul Hendy:
I’m really looking forward to people seeing ‘The Last Laugh’ for the first time and I’m very excited to hear the reaction. I think we have three incredibly gifted actors playing the roles of Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse and I can’t wait for the audience to see them.
Bob Golding:
I’ve been attending the Edinburgh fringe since 1997. Most years with the exception of 2 or 3, so it’s a significant part of my year. There so much to love about Edinburgh in August culturally and artistically of course, but it’s also one of my favourite cities on the planet. I’ve already visited twice this year already and continue to visit as regularly as my wife and I can.
This answer could be a thousand words long and I would still have wished I put more, but essentially if you’re connected to creativity in art, theatre, music, film , tv , or literary then the atmosphere during the festival is addictive. We have our favourite food places too… Spitaki in East Claremont is a particular favourite.
Damian Williams:
Having never done the fringe or even visited it in my 53 years of existence I am so looking forward to being part of it & experiencing the Buzz that everyone talks about.
Simon Cartwright:
Being part of an exciting and vibrant multicultural arts festival. Last here in 2015 with ‘The Man Called Monkhouse’, I am looking forward repeating the amazing and inspiring experience.
The three comics in this show are much loved, and in two cases, died far before their time. What makes them remembered today?
PH – They made the whole nation laugh. Everybody loved them… mums, dads, nans, grandads, children… it’s something we don’t necessarily get these days because television and the media is so dissipated. Their comedy is timeless and joyous – as funny today as it was in their heyday.
BG – Another biggie! Eric had that ‘other thing!’ ( cue an Eric style joke about having another ‘thing’ ) but he really did, he was just so accessible. Comedically speaking it came naturally to him and he earned our love.
It wasn’t an easy journey as I’m sure any comedian will testify to but unless someone is accessible , and by that I mean they come across easily and naturally then one would struggle to maintain an audience’s attention or respect, also we have all known an Ericesque type person in our lives or family.
The daft uncle at weddings who did silly tricks with the napkin or placed their glasses on screw whiff… we as Brits knew and accepted his personality as ‘close to home’.
For me , that natural charm means that the people will hold you dear to them… as indeed the nation has.
DW – They were all such a big part of everyone’s life back in the day when we all sat around as a family to watch Saturday night T.V. Much loved men who brought so much joy & laughter into our houses.
SC – All three were iconic legends of British light-entertainment. They represent a time when families would sit down together and watch television together.
As a man in his late 50’s, these entertainers played a big part in my childhood memories.
Tell me more about the show. You place these three men together to talk about life, death and laughter. Do you address the more tragic stories around them (for example Cooper’s very public death on a live TV broadcast) or do you keep it light?
PH – This is very much a celebration of their comedy – a love letter to the golden age of British entertainment, but yes, we do touch on the tragic elements of their lives.
We meet the three comedians towards the end of their lives, and they reflect on what went well and what didn’t go so well. As well as being funny, the play is also poignant and very moving.
BG – This is very much a love letter to our heroes.
Paul Hendy is a British Comedy fanatic, as are Damian and Simon and I so this is our salute to three of our comedy greats and this play will hopefully (thanks to Paul) touch the hearts of and remind the audiences of the talents we lost.
We do deal with the more intricate side of life and death here, so hopefully it will not just entertain but also inform and celebrate the legacy.
DW – It’s a very warm poignant play about the life of a comedian & in particularly the highs and lows of these great men .
An insight into what it must have been like to be them & and yes, you will get to learn a bit more about the night Tommy died.
SC – The exploration is more about the science of comedy and how each comedian had a different style and approach.
Obviously, aspects of their own life stories are referenced, but this is more of a warm, poignant, and nostalgic piece.
Paul, you have developed the show from your short film. Was it easy to extend the idea for a new art form?
I made the film in 2017 and, even then, I thought it would make a great play.
For me, the characters, the setting, and the subject matter are fascinating. I love these comedians, and I love this world, so I didn’t find it difficult to mine for more nuggets!
Although these comics were contemporaries, their style of humour was very different. Do you have a favourite from the three?
PH – Oh, that would be really difficult to choose (like asking me to name my favourite child!)
If pushed, I would probably have to say Eric Morecambe. Arguably, the least complicated of the three but a naturally gifted comedian.
I remember when I was a child, sitting down on Christmas Day to watch The Morecambe and Wise Show and seeing my whole family roar with laughter.
It just seemed that making people laugh was so easy for him – but of course it wasn’t and the play touches on that.
BG – How do you pick a favourite child?
I believe all three of these gems are worthy of our respect and adoration sometimes for different reasons, but obviously, Eric ( & Ernie, of course) will always be close to my heart. Obviously!
SC – I had the pleasure of knowing Bob Monkhouse. I first met him in 1989 and remained in touch until his death. I feel more closely connected to him than the others. That said, I love, respect and admire all three with equal measure.
Tommy Cooper (1921-1984)
Eric Morecambe (1926-1984)
Bob Monkhouse (1928-2003)