Cooper's Tribute Closes Jus' Like That in West EndDate: 17 July 2003
Tommy Cooper tribute show Jus' Like That has posted early closing notices in the West End. Following a brief regional tour, the comedy, which stars Soldier, Soldier's Jerome Flynn as the late comedian, opened at the Garrick Theatre on 8 April 2003 (previews from 3 April) and, in May, extended its season by 11 weeks up to 6 September 2003. It will now close on 2 August, after a run of four months.
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.
Jus' Like That, written by Cooper's former television producer John Fisher, presents a nostalgic onstage and backstage snapshot of the entertainer. The production is directed by actor-author-director Simon Callow, choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood and designed by Christopher Woods.
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. He has been widely praised for his uncanny impersonation of Cooper in Jus' Like That, previously titled Cooper! Not Like That, Like This.
No further productions have yet been announced for the Garrick Theatre.
- by Terri Paddock
