The Fiddle and the Bow
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The pop of the flashbulbs, the plush red carpet, the chauffeur driven limousine, the celebrities, the unmistakable whiff of huge wealth. All these things were missing at a world premiere performance in Sheffield on Monday 15th June 2009 but there was still a buzz of anticipation as Sons of the Desert gathered in the New Crown Inn, the home of the Brats Tent. They were there to witness the first-ever performance of The Fiddle and the Bow, a new one-man play written and performed by Andrew Craig Shepherd. Andrew has been a member of the Brats Tent since its inception and is a professional actor and his TV credits include Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Cold Feet and Waterloo Road. I have to admit to a certain trepidation about this new play. I've seen a few Laurel and Hardy plays over the years and wondered, "What is there left to say? What new angle can there be?" The play's synopsis states, "Stan Laurel looks back on the night of his Oscar and reminisces about his film career, both as a solo artist and with Ollie. The play chronicles their early careers, moving on to their immortal partnership, through to their later years." So, there isn't a new angle, and I'm not sure how Andrew will say what has already been said, I thought, as around sixty people took their seats for the performance. Andrew bounded onto the stage (well, floor!) and it was clear from that moment that his enthusiasm would carry him through what lay ahead. Dressed in white shirt, black trousers, black tie, and with only a bowler hat as a prop, he set the scene as Stan, who was too ill to attend the Oscar ceremony in 1961, with Danny Kaye accepting the honorary honour on his behalf. This was a clever device to introduce the audience to Stan, and, in turn, Ollie, as Stan reminisced on the career that the Oscar was awarded for. Andrew then went back to the beginning of both men's careers, skilfully impersonating all the characters himself (as he was alone, he had little choice!). His impression of Ollie's "mama" and AJ, Stan's father, were particularly good and the children in the audience were enthralled at young Stan's encounter with the strict and frightening headmaster at St James Grammar School. He even had young Stan doing an impression of his impression of the headmaster! The familiar story (to Sons of the Desert, anyway) was gradually unveiled with cameos of Charlie Chaplin, Hal Roach and several of the stock company actors such as Billy Gilbert, Charlie Hall and James Finlayson, as we were taken through the solo years, silent years and the momentous teaming. The play was a nice mix of narrative and knockabout slapstick action which broke up the sometimes isolated feel of a one-man performance. As the Boys' successful career wound down at the end of the '30s Andrew explained in a documentary style segment about the wartime films and their difficulties then reverted to very good acting as he displayed both Stan and Ollie's health problems. There was a real sense of Stan's frustration at his own health and Ollie's plight before his death. The play ends, as it must, with the deaths of Stan and Ollie, and with Andrew probably worn out himself with the physical exertion and mental stress of single handedly holding our attention for a full fifty minutes! We were given questionnaires to complete as Andrew hopes to progress the play professionally, perhaps on tour. As Laurel and Hardy aficionados it's difficult to assess what a wider audience would think, as recognition of the story, phrases and characters has an enhancing effect. However, even allowing for that, given the right setting, the play certainly has potential and Andrew deserves encouragement and a tip of the bowler for a fine performance. If you're wondering where the title is from, it's a "John McCabeism!" |
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