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Flynn's Cooper Opens at West End's Garrick, 8 Apr

The venue has now been confirmed for the West End premiere in April of John Fisher's new play Jus' Like That (previously titled Cooper! Not Like That, Like This , which will star Soldier Soldier's Jerome Flynn as the late comedian (see News, 21 Nov 2002). The production, directed by Simon Callow, will open at the Garrick Theatre on 8 April 2003 (previews from 3 April), following a brief regional tour - to Malvern, Oxford and Plymouth - from 5 March.

Cooper died on stage at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1984 of a heart attack. His act combined hammy comedy with a classic sense of timing. This enabled him to rehash old jokes, and to make a humorous mess of magic tricks whilst wearing his trademark fez hat. Set on the night of his death, Jus' Like That provides a behind-the-scenes insight into the private man and the working life of Britain's famously manic magician.

In addition to his 1990s starring role as Paddy Garvey in five series of Soldier, Soldier, Jerome Flynn's other screen credits include Badger, Best, Lake of Darkness, Ain't Misbehavin' and To Kill a Priest.

Jus' Like That is directed by actor-author-director Callow, choreographed by dancer Lionel Blair and designed by Christopher Woods, with magic director by Geoffrey Durham and lighting by Nick Richings.

At the Garrick, the Cooper comedy will replace Kenneth Lonergan's Whatsonstage.com Award-nominated This Is Our Youth - now starring Hollywood's Freddie Prinze Jr, Chris Klein and Heather Burns - which finishes on 15 March 2003 at the end of its current booking period (see Today's News).

- by Terri Paddock

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