Al Murray - The man behind the man behind the bar

 An interview with Al Murray

In between his very hectic schedule of tour dates, writing, rehearsing for a gig and podcasting, Al Murray very kindly agreed to a quick chat.

We have followed your career with great enjoyment since the early days of comedy with Harry Hill.  Stand up aside though, your historical recall, associations and repositioning are quite unique.  Have you always had the ability to weave such narratives?  (Al has a history degree from Oxford University)

AM - Yes, when I studied history at University I was not able to focus on the history that interested me, in fact I really couldn’t bear a lot of it, so when I could return to it later on I was able to choose exactly what I liked.   I am fascinated by the Second World War and I think understanding it, and History in general, is really important.  History and exploring world events and how they impacted people is a cultural phenomenon;  it affects everyone differently so being able to use facts to retell stories which prompt people to then question what they think is amazing.

 

Many people know you best as The Pub Landlord – over the past 10 years, you have more than dabbled in music, politics, theatre, writing and presenting – does the Landlord persona ‘get in the way’ at all?

AM - Not at all, in fact I use him and me to show two sides of the same coin.  In my recent series “Why Does Everyone Hate the English’”  I was able to have The Pub Landlord character make his rather over the top observations and then I, as Al Murray, was able to explain in a more measured way the facts behind the headlines.

 

You did a battlefield tour with James Holland at Arnhem and Nijmegen, have you any others planned and which would you most like to do next?

AM - My tours and subsequent podcast with James (”We Have ways of Making You Talk”) have been amazing for me.  I thought I was very knowledgeable about the Second World War (ed. He is VERY knowledgeable) but as James and I talked through the series I realised just how much more there is to know.  I think knowing and understanding the Second World War is very important; we can learn so much about who we are now by looking back on where we were then. 

Looking ahead, the plan is that with international travel available next year we will be having more tours across other battle sites and hopefully another series of the podcasts.

 The Pub Landlord character is very open in celebrating Britishness; since the Brexit referendum, do you think audiences have changed in declaring their English/British nationality?  

AM - No, not all all. In 2016 the Brexit referendum was a single question asked of people on a topic, the EU, that would normally rank about 7^th or 8^th in their list of important things to think about.  They voted and then went back to their lives and allowed the politicians to begin fighting about the details.  It didn’t change how we felt about ourselves and didn’t really feature in our everyday conversations until very recently, so how British we felt then is still pretty much the same now.

The Covid pandemic, however, has been very different – that has come into everyone’s homes, lives, thoughts and as such there is a much more specific reaction to what is happening.   Looking back on a previous question, in a way, Covid has been much more like the Second World War in it has affected everyone immediately, far more than Brexit.

 

Have you managed to get back to drumming with a live band since restrictions have been eased ? 

AM - Yes, we have started rehearsals a few weeks ago and have a gig planned for later in September.  It’s been a great relief to get back playing live with the band. (ed. It is clear Al is very excited about performing again)

 

What can we expect of this current tour (Al Murray; Landlord of Hope and Glory)

AM – The Pub Landlord will be back doing what he does best, tackling current issues head on, enjoying the ‘banter’ with the audience and hopefully making people feel good.  There has been a lot of things happen since the last tour so we have a lot of new ground to cover.

 

What do you think the Pub Landlord makes of the recent influx of craft gins ?  is it just a fad ?

AM - Al laughs – the huge range of new drinks is great, it gives people choice and with choice comes happiness.  I think the Pub Landlord, however would still think the traditional white wine/fruit based drinks should be a staple go to option.

 

My granddaughter (5) would like to know, if you were a potato, how would you like to be cooked?

AM - Baked, every time.

Al Murray - Landlord of Hope and Glory tour is on now, tickets and dates from https://thepublandlord.com/ 

Al's Podcasts - We Have Ways of Making You Talk 

Al's unique look at our history - Why Does Everyone Hate the English (on HistoryPlay & Amazon)

Blood Brothers Theatre Royal

Everyone knows the story of the Johnston twins, as identical as two new pins, and as such, almost everyone who comes to see Willy Russell's Blood Brothers does so with a degree of expectation which rivals most other shows.  

Little has changed in the 40 years since the show first hit the stage; the songs, the set and the mood all remain instantly recognisable, and yet the brilliance of the writing and the complexity of the characters provide each production with an opportunity to add their own special take.

Set in Liverpool over 25 years it plots the course of the lives of twins who, having been separated at birth, remain fatefully linked through common loves, shared struggles and ultimately both unknowing of their own secret. To many, the underlying story is one of nature versus nurture, but it's far more complex than that; no two humans are identical, despite them being twins and as such it is emotion that separates the two boys more than miles or money.

Paula Tappenden (Blood Brothers super star, Wind in the Willows, Wizrd of Oz) plays the boys' mother, Mrs Johnston, and is simply perfect.  She brings a worldly-wise element which deepens the belief that she has lived through all she sings of. She has a brilliant maternal embrace for the part, blending the love only a mother could have with the strength to defy the odds and fight against the cruel hand of fate.  Paula starts the show light on her feet, twinkle in her eye and a cheeky smile, yet, by the time of the final scene we have watched her grow old before our eyes, lose the joys of life and finally witness the spectre of death that has haunted her throughout.   I defy there to have ever been as powerful and emotive lead seen and this was borne out by the sight at the very end with the audience giving a tear streaked standing ovation.

The chalk to Mrs J's cheese, Mrs Lyons was played by the wonderful Grace Galloway  (Di and Viv and Rose, Chess the Musical ) - brilliant acted as the over protective, self obsessed snob who cannot bear to accept her part in the ultimate tragedy of the story.  Grace's portrayal of middle aged Mrs L belies her own youth and is great testament to her acting skills.

Of course, the story is not just Mrs Johnston vs Mrs Lyons, the rest of the cast are stella in their delivery too.  Robbie Scotcher (Miss Saigon, Footloose, Anything Goes) as the narrator is the ever present shadow of conscience, skulking in the dark, sliding through scenes as the fore-mentioned spectre and constantly reminding us that this story is destined to be an unhappy one.  

Josh Capper (Alladin, The Turnip Field) as Micky and Joel Benedict (a previous Blood Brothers Alumni) as Eddie have great chemistry and play off each other like brothers always do.  In particular, Josh's portrayal of Micky as he descends into depression and pill dependency is a huge shift from the care free, rebel with a smile Micky he plays earlier and demonstrates a wonderfully deep appreciation of the role and human nature.  

Danielle Corlass (another previous BB star as well as Janet in Rocky Horror Show) as Linda, undergoes perhaps the biggest shift in character; starting as a 7 year old tom boy, she morphs into a giggling adolescent, then a lovestruck teenager before becoming a newly wed and ultimately a heartbroken widow.   For all that Mrs J takes centre stage as the linchpin of the story, Danielle as Linda is the perfect foil to remind the audience that this is not a one dimensional story about the boys.

A special mention to Daniel Taylor (Brookside, Game On, The Bill and countless wonderful stage shows) as rebellious renegade Sammy - totally believable as the dangerous rogue, very threatening.

If there are any who have yet to see Blood Brothers, this will be the best and most memorable show you will see this year - a wonderful release from the difficult times we've been through - give yourself permission to cry with everyone else.

The Cat and The Canary

Suspense and intrigue returned to Darlington Hippodrome last night and it was a solid 3 star show.

Continuing to build on the long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, Bill Kenwright’s Classic Thriller Theatre Company (Rehearsal For Murder, Judgement in Stone and The Lady Vanishes), returns with their latest chilling whodunit, the creepy comedy thriller The Cat and the Canary, written by John Willard and Directed by Roy Marsden.

Set in an old mansion, it is the tale of estranged family members brought together 20 years after the patriarch’s death to hear the reading of his will, and more importantly to them, find out who will inherit the vast fortune he left behind.

Of course, when there’s money involved initial bon amie turns to greed and we watch as plots are written, schemes concocted and true feelings uncovered.  There’s no shortage of shocks, as well as some laugh out loud moments, all played in a wonderful set which becomes more claustrophobic as the night continues.

Heading up the cast is silver screen and Bond-girl legend Britt Ekland, playing Mrs Pleasant, the housekeeper. Mrs Pleasant has lived alone in the house since the former owners demise and is now as part of the fabric of the building as the bookcases and creaking stairs. Britt is a perfect balance of seldom being centre stage yet ominously ever present and oozes Hollywood style.

Starring alongside Ms Ekland is singer-songwriter, actor and former member of 00’s boy band Blue, Antony Costa who has wonderful comedic timing and plays the apparent hapless vet, Paul, perfectly.

Tracy Shaw, best known for her long-running role as Maxine Peacock in Coronation Street is the debonair author Annabelle and the story’s heroine.  Her performance commands attention, shining out through the auditorium with star appeal and at times carrying the plot on her own.

They are joined by West End leading lady Marti Webb (Evita and Tell Me on A Sunday) as Aunt Susan; Gary Webster, (Family Affairs and Ray Daley opposite George Cole in ITV’s Minder) as Harry; Classic Thriller Theatre Company veteran Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) as actor Charlie, and Eric Carte (Bouquet of Barbed Wire) as Crosby, the Lawyer and family solicitor.

As a horror/drama/comedy this is a great opening to the Hippodrome’s Autumn season, very entertaining and a lovely return to live theatre.

Tickets are on sale https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/The-Cat-and-the-Canary#booking

Rocky Horror Show

 

“…I am a regular Frankie Fan”

If there is a better way to welcome back the crowds to live theatre then I have yet to see it.  This version of Rocky Horror Show, directed by Chris Luscombe and brilliantly lit by Nick Richings, brings all the camp goth horror rock that fans of the show demand, yet makes it still very accessible to any ‘virgins’ viewing for the very 1^st time; the in jokes, the audience heckles and cast responses land perfectly but don’t alienate those who are viewing the greatest rock horror musical with fresh eyes.

The story; lost couple Brad Majors (Ore Oduba) and his new fiancé Janet Weiss (Haley Flaherty) stumble upon a castle inhabited by ghouls, aliens, dead bikers, creatures and of course, Frank N Furter (Stephen Webb) –an egotistical megalomaniac with a proclivity for shiny things – basques, whips, oiled torsos.  Ably supported by his minions – Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe), Magenta (Suzie McAdam) and Columbia (Lauren Ingram) Frank corrupts the two lovebirds and so begins a night of debauchery which leaves them questioning their previously held values, their sanity and, who knows, perhaps life itself.

Ore Oduba as Brad is wonderful; brilliant comedic timing, character acting of the highest order and a powerful, yet vulnerable singing voice (especially during Once in your Life).  His musical theatre star has risen very quickly, debuting in Curtains opposite Jason Manford just a few years ago and now delivering one of the best Brad’s ever.

Guiding the way through this smorgasbord of sin is our narrator, a role which has, in itself, become as central to the evening's enjoyment as any of the leads.  Philip Franks embraces the tradition of breaking the 4^th wall, engaging with the audience and expecting their heckles (most of which are, in themselves traditional).  Franks adds in topical and current reference prompting much laughter and additional ribbing – Brexit, the cabinet, the economy and current social media trends are all cleverly woven into his responses to the delight of the audience.

Any production of RHS is a guarantee of a great night.  Over the years the levels of greatness have varied but with this current tour, the experience the cast have, and with the brilliance of Brad and in particular the narrator, there is a 5 star gold seal on top.

Rocky Horror Show is at Sunderland Empire until Saturday 25^th September.

Contains mature themes, flashing lights, rock music, blood, sex, partial nudity, funny one liners, feathers, whips, corsets, aliens, audio-vibratory-physio-molecular transport devices, naïve charm and plenty of muscle.

Educating Rita at Theatre Royal

 

The Student becomes the Master

This most recent tour of Willy Russell’s timeless classic, Educating Rita, comes to a final close this week at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, a fitting location for local lead Jessica Johnson’s graduation.

Since April 2017 when Jess played Rita at the Gala, Durham, she has taken the role of Rita to be very much her own.  Of course, the immortal genius of Russell’s writing creates a landscape in which actors have freedom to develop, but having seen this incarnation a number of times over the past 4 years, it is Johnsons’s own development that is just as impressive as the journey the titular Rita takes.  Always confident in the role, there was added depth and strength to last night’s performance borne from the brilliant on-stage chemistry and Jess’s commitment to her craft.

The story is well known and much loved; Rita wants to change her mundane life, breakaway from the cultural expectations of her family, peers, husband and feed her desire to learn and grow.  She embarks on an English Literature OU course and, paired with disillusioned (and often drunk) professor Frank (the incomparable Stephen Tompkinson), she discovers the classics, Shakespeare, poetry and critical thinking.  As much as Rita grows, Frank shrinks into his bottles of well hidden scotch, ruing his own lost passions and resenting the freedom and possibilities Rita now uncovers.  His descent into self-pity is akin to Victor Frankenstein’s love and then hatred for his monster – it is not the monster’s fault it became what the Dr created, nor is it Rita’s fault Frank gave her the freedom to think for herself, which he then struggles to accept.

As is to be expected with a Russell masterpiece, the wit and comedic observations are packed into this 2 hander, juxtaposed against the still current social constraints of ‘change is bad’ and ‘know your place’.  The great set (Franks study, filled with dusty books, student papers and the afore mentioned bottles of booze) is both claustrophobic to Frank and enlightening to Rita; what are his prison walls are her gates to freedom, and even his impending trip to Australia (due to an unfortunate, drunken incident with the Bursar) does little to break him from his captive mindset. 

It may be a long time before we again get to see such wonderful on-stage unity from 2 actors totally immersed in their art.  Don’t miss out on this final leg of the tour. 

Thank you Jessica and Stephen for a wonderful journey and who knows, perhaps Mr Russell could be tempted to write a follow up - Rita the Teacher anyone?