Distilling the essence of Eric Morecambe into 90 minutes seems like an undoable, arduous task, yet writer Tim Whitnall has managed said task and created a truly enjoyable exploration of one of the most adored entertainers, expertly directed by Guy Masterson and skillfully performed by Bob Golding.
By nature, one man shows are usually difficult to nail and when basing it on a real legend, it becomes an even trickier mission. But this production avoids the pitfalls of solo performance and delivers a solid show that whizzes through the life and times of Morecambe.
Whitnall takes us through his fictional account of the real events and characters in Eric's life (Morecambe was born John Eric Bartholomew), chronologically exploring the boy who practiced tap dancing on wooden planks who went on to perform at music-halls throughout the country and create a fast bond with his right-hand man Ernie Wise.
The presence of Wise is in the shape of a ventriloquist dummy, beginning as a humorous device that develops into an essential element of the production that is often extremely poignant, perfectly encapsulating both their joint approach to comedy and their life-long friendship.
Whitnall gives just enough biographical detail without it feeling scholastic, cleverly integrating Morecambe's golden gems into the narrative (a highlight being the famous Andre Previn sketch).
Golding successfully enraptures the audience, his performance more of an incarnation than impersonation, based on reverence for the Lancashire lad than trying to perfectly mimic his every nuance.
Masterson's pacing pays off brilliantly with rapturous laughter throughout as Golding energetically holds the stage, jumping from character to character with aplomb and greatly achieving the witty asides Morecambe himself was so famous and admired for.
Set against an old-style proscenium arch and velvet curtain, it perfectly reflects the style and setting of Morecambe's genius and highlights that what we're seeing onstage is a reflection of a life and not necessarily a fully true account. We laugh at wartime troubles, recoil at the disasters, celebrate the breakthroughs and marital unions and are touched by Morecambe's ever present professionalism and desire to always entertain, even through health difficulties which inevitably took him away twenty five years ago.
The tragedy is handled expertly by all three contributors; the writing is never sentimental, the direction is never mawkish and Golding's delivery lacks dramatics highlighting Morecambe's overpowering desire to keep on working past financial need, unable to escape the performance bug.
At the heart of the show it does what Morecambe did - it entertains right to the end and puts a smile on everyone's face, with a warm standing ovation from an audience who were both extremely amused and moved by a brilliantly constructed portrayal of the "Comedian of the Century". A true gem of a show and a successful tribute that any Morecambe and Wise fan will delight in.
Times: 10-31 August (not 17 Aug), 4.10pm
© Lindsay Corr, August 2009