The enduring appeal of Laurel and Hardy is one of the happier stories to emerge from the early days of Hollywood. The ‘low-budget’ films they made over sixty years ago have hooked generations of fans with their unique charm and undisputed genius. This fascinating and entertaining new production looks set to introduce a whole new legion of fans to the comic exploits of Laurel and Hardy.

Tom McGrath’s play was first performed to great acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival in 1993. It charts the ups and downs of their public and private lives following their careers from cradle to grave, interspersing the narrative with recreations of some of their film’s finest gags and set pieces, and showing a surprising on/off-screen character reversal. There are hints of heartache from both their lives and the insight into their off-screen relationship is fascinating. The charm, wit and allure of Stan and Ollie are captured throughout.

Much loved former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan stars as Stan Laurel, a role he always had the ambition to play. Damian Williams (Billy Webb, Alfonzo Bonzo) will portray Oliver Hardy.

SLAPSTICK DELIGHT NOT TO BE MISSED

Full review from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph by Ann Johnson, 15 Nov 2002

Make ‘em laugh. Even on a jerky silent black and white film, this brilliant comedy duo still delights modern audiences.

This fascinating biographical play traces the ups and downs of their career on and off the stage and includes many of their legendary slapstick sketches and gags. One burst of that famous silly walk signature tune… and here was bowler-hatted Oliver hardy on stage in the flesh already fuming because zany Stan hadn’t arrived.

Damian Williams physical resemblance of the great comedian is uncanny and once weedy fall-guy Stan (Peter Duncan) finally arrives to trip over him and receive a clout ‘Well here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten us into Stanley!’ the fun really begins.

Williams and Duncan also adopt all the other characters in the play from jealous wife to film director, divesting costumes and props with abandon all over the stage even the musical director Andy Collyer accompanying them on piano.

But of course it’s the duos slapstick comedy that made them famous and the stars of this play must collect a nightly quota of bruises because director Patric Kearns, no mean comedy actor himself, ensures there is a wealth of stumbling, collisions and gloriously careless ladder work throughout the first half.

There is a fascinating insight in Laurel & Hardy’s private life in the more serious second act revealing the couple character reversal off-stage. The weedy Stan ambitious, Hardy the gentle giant.

However it’s their unerring sense of the absurd that shines through in the production – a joy to the latent custard-pie thrower lurking in us all.