Reader Reviews
The Play What I Wrote (Wyndham's Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | A very enjoying evening. The main chatacters do not impersonate Eric and Ernie as such but convey their comic spirit with feeling. The play moved along with at a nice pace and incorporated all the major features associated with the TV series including the patter in front of the curtain, the bedroom scene etc. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (128.240.229.6) | 08 Nov 02 |
| Fantastic. I've seen it twice already and am going again for a third time next week. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.49.186.66) | 07 Nov 02 |
| Very mediocre show. Over the top acting and a complete waste of time. Go to another show, it will certainly be better - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.103.188.141) | 07 Nov 02 |
| I loved it. Didn't really know what to expect apart from the fact that it was something to do with M&W and would make me laugh. The most manic hour and a half ensued with back to back organised caos, slapstick, blatant gags, and the subtle elements which make M&W so well loved. Highly recommended although you'll need to concentrate to keep up with Foley and McColl.... Guest star was Miranda Richardson - well worth the wait. jenny_thwaites@hotmail.com - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 19 Apr 02 |
| I grew up in the seventies and in our household Morecambe & Wise was an institution, so I was determined to see this play when I flew in from Dubai for a week in London. I found the burlesque sexual act in the first half vulgar - it seemed gratuitous and therefore offensive. Gratuitous sex scenes were never a part of the Morecambe & Wise shows which were universally regarded as good, clean fun which all members of the family could enjoy together. The audience consisted of a large number of elderly people who had presumably enjoyed Morecambe & Wise the first time around. Several of these people left during the interval, possibly in a state of shock. I stayed on, partly because I had looked forward to seeing it so much and partly because I wanted to find out who the mystery guest was (Charles Dance). At the end of the play I was left with a) the disappointment of the first half, b) gratitude that I hadn't invited any elderly members of my family and c) the overall realisation that Morecambe & Wise are their own best tribute: save your money and spend it on buying the videos of the original shows. Caroline. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Apr 02 |
| Still the funniest thing on the London stage. I never knew that Martin Shaw was a repressed Song and Dance man. Fabulous! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Apr 02 |
| Really enjoyed the play as a M&W fan and you really need to be to have a good time,but it not really value for money if paying £35 for a 35 minute first half and then a nearly a 25 minute interval and a second half of only barely 40 mins,the celebrity guest was Twiggy who was very good,I was sat in the front row of the balcony for £12.50 and wouldnt pay anymore for this show and the balcony front row has a great view and the bar in the front row does not spoil the view like Theatremonkey says it does!!!. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 24 Mar 02 |
| You left before the interval,before the surprise guest appears!!!! I thought tourists were stupid but you take the biscuit!!! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 22 Mar 02 |
| This play should come with a warning "For Brits only". While many in the audience were obviously enjoying it,we saw no humor at all. We left at the interval - extremely disappointed. for - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 21 Mar 02 |
| A fantastic show - the feel good factor is with me still. I can't wait to go again! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 01 Mar 02 |
| Hilarious - already booked again. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 16 Jan 02 |
| Shockingly bad: I have been at Medical student revues which had more subtlety and taste. It certainly illustrates how good Morecambe & Wise were - because they had everything this show lacks, such as timing and true comic ability. They also didn't have to be gross to be funny - something those involved in this production obviously don't understand. What on earth did Kenneth Branagh think he was doing? I was utterly disappointed - DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS. Annette Shiels (Dr) - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 13 Jan 02 |
| Really boring and tasteless. Maybe too "english humour" for my taste. A disapointing production - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 30 Dec 01 |
| I wasn't sure what I was going to make of this show when I went to see it. As a huge fan of Eric and Ernie, I was hoping that it would be half as good as them. Once I realised that Eddie Braben helped with the writing of the show, I knew it would be good. What I actually found was a hilarious show that was respectful to Eric and Ernie and as funny as anything they have done. The casting was perfect, with the surprise guest of Richard E.Grant adding to the fun, I never didn't find my interest strayed for a moment. In the row in front of me were a party of teenagers who most likely wouldn't of remembered Morecombe and Wise, yet they were creased up at the jokes, both verbal and physical. My only criticism of the show was there was one scene/joke which seemed out of place for a show about Morecambe and Wise, but this wasn't enough to spoil the show or the evening at all. I would highly recommend this show and hope to return to see it again before it closes. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 29 Dec 01 |
| Simply brilliant. Never having seen a Morecambe & Wise show I was nervous to say the least, however I was crying with laughter instantly. Maureen Lipman was fantastic as the mystery guest, the three real stars were enormously brilliant and the whole show was genius. I will be booking again very soon. Thanks boys. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 02 Dec 01 |
| Quite simply the best thing on stage at the moment (in London's Glittering West End at any rate). I enjoyed the whole experience. What a delight that stars of the calibre of (sir) Ralph Fiennes are queuing up to be put through their paces by such a double act (in three parts!) - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 26 Nov 01 |
| What a fantastic and hilarious show! Aside from the appearance of Ralph Fiennes, the timing and the use of a few well-known gags had us crying with laughter. However, it is true that to fully enjoy (and understand) the show you have to have had some exposure to M&W, I overheard a comment along the lines of; "it got better once the play started", shows that to not appreciate M&W's style of comedy is to have completely misunderstood the entire play... - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 24 Nov 01 |
| I went to see this last night and it was amazing! I laughed all the way through. I would recommend it to anybody! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 15 Nov 01 |
| Whoever found the right size and had the idea for this play deserves a huge round of applause as it has the audience in stitches - a triumph - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 12 Nov 01 |
| What a fantastic play - I laughed so much. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 12 Nov 01 |
| I'm the American in the previous review. Horrendously bad play unless you're into the type of comedy that was shown when TV was invented. Completely lacking wit or subtlety. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 08 Nov 01 |
| This play should come with a warning that if you are not a Morecambe and Wise fan, you may not laugh much. You may chuckle at one of the falling over gags, but you'll spent much of the show trying to work out why the rest of the audience is giving themselves hernias by guffawing like, well like my parents watching a Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special. An American friend who was in our group was so perplexed by the slapstick humour that she left in the interval. Luckily I only paid £10 for each ticket, on a special offer. Otherwise I might have been less consoled by the thought that, so long as 99% of the audience were having the time of their lives, the experience at least provided an extremely feel-good, heart warming lift to my Thursday evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 08 Nov 01 |
| Saw ths in Liverpool in preview and loved every minuts of it. It''s the most feel good show, something we all need! Will definitely see it again in London, if only to see who the surprise guest is. Brilliant - go see it! - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 07 Nov 01 |
| I went to the opening night of "The Play what I wrote" last night at The Wyndhams Theatre in London and I have not laughed so much for a very long time. It is the most brilliant play and a must for people to see. Whether you are a Morecambe & Wise fan or not it will be enjoyed by all. - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 06 Nov 01 |
| I went to see 'The Play What I Wrote' last night at the Playhouse Theatre in Liverpool prior to it's transfer to the Wyndham's in London. It was a story of two friends, brilliantly played by Hamish McColl and Sean Foley aka the Right Size who are asked to appear in a Morecambe and Wise tribute show in 'London's glittering West End.' But one of the wants to perform the play that he has written. I will not go into detail into the plot as I don't want to spoil it to people who want to see the show. The right Size are joined by Toby Jones, who has the job of playing everyone from the member of the audience, the theatre manager, David Pugh the producer, Darryl Hanna, the mystery star guest and more. he is also great and the three performers work very well together. Each night they are joined by a mystery star guest. Last night it was the turn of Sue Johnston who appeared in Brookside and the Royle Family, which I was very pleased about. There is no mention of the name of the guest in the programme, you only find out in the second part of the show! All in all I enjoyed the show very much. If you are a great fan of Morecambe and Wise then you will love this show. I was not familiar with their work as I am only 20 and did not see their TV shows. my mother on the other hand did not enjoy the show as she is not a Morecambe and Wise fan, so if you are not a fan of then I think it is best to stay away! I see that the top price ticket in London will be £35, which I don't think it is worth (I only paid £7 for the best seat in Liverpool). I would wait to find if a discount is available first. I can's see it lasting long at this price. In short a great show directed by Kenneth Branagh. which lasts just under 2 hours. It will be interesting to see what the Press have to say about this show! Meirion - USER: Whatsonstage.com | 11 Oct 01 |
