IT'S GRIMMS UP NORTH - RIK MAYALL'S LOST TAPES

Presented by Short Tails & Tall Stories

Written by Mike Bennett

Directed & produced by Yvette V Warburton

Aatama, Manchester

Reviewed: 1st August 2024

The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh: 5-10th August 2024

 

Review by Brian Gorman

Described as a 'Manchester Preview Event' this was a first chance to see a rather unique show, just days before the cast and crew head for the Edinburgh Fringe. It took a little time to actually find the venue, nestled as it is down a narrow, graffiti-filled alleyway in Manchester's popular Northern Quarter. Up a couple of flights of concrete stairs to a pretty intimate, yet scarily atmospheric room that looked like it had seen much better days. A basic set-up of a simple white screen on a small bare stage sufficed, as we were treated to a powerful, energetic, and at times hysterical performance from the terrifyingly enigmatic and dangerously unpredictable Mike Bennett.

 

Written by Bennett (who also happens to be the current lead singer of the legendary Blockheads), several 'magical animated stories' were screened, narrated by the late Rik Mayall, and presented by Bennett in a brash, punk style; cajoling the audience to join in at several moments with pantomimic response. 'Beauty and The Beast', 'The Gingerbread Man', and 'The Three Little Pigs' are certainly extremely familiar tales, but were given fresh, new life in a very basic, 'South Park' animation style, that perfectly complimented the narration. The more static and understated the images, the more effective were the vocals of Mayall, displaying his reckless, breathless, rollercoaster delivery.

 

Commissioned by Pinewood Studios in 2012, these much-loved fairy tales, written in the style of the Brothers Grimm, had a distinctly Northern flavour, and are Rik Mayall's last audio work. With that in mind, there couldn't help but be a bittersweet melancholic delight in hearing his familiar voice again. Together with the tales themselves, we were provided a rare glimpse of the man's working methods, as the unedited sound tapes included some quite simply hilarious interactions between Bennett and Mayall in the recording studio. Choice language was to be expected, and we were not disappointed.

The animations alone were rollicking good fun, and Mayall was a superb voice artist, throwing himself into every character with his legendary manic energy. Combined with the delicious out-takes, and Bennett's live performance, this was a fantastically entertaining evening. Director Yvette Warburton kept things simple, electing to unleash the beast that is the whirlwind Bennett, and channel the ethereal Mayall electricity. 

Supplying excellent support was the incredibly youthful looking, bespectacled, Buddy Holly-esque Mancunian performance poet, Thick Richard. Something of a local legend, and (in my personal view) one of the country's great undiscovered treasures. Rapid-fire, barbed-tongued, cynical, angry, and virtually spitting venomous ectoplasm, he was the perfect addition to Mike Bennett's older, warmer onstage persona.

Simply wonderful.

TONY SLATTERY: RESUSCITATED

 

Erica Lear with Tony Slattery.

Tank Bar & Live Lounge, Warrington

Touring

Review by Brian Gorman

The subtitle for this endearingly dotty, scatter-brained, and heartwarming show is 'THE STAR OF 'WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?'IS BACK FROM THE DEAD!'. Brutally honest, and shot through with the blackest of humour, the title says it all. Tony Slattery was a shining light, with matinee idol looks; a  clean cut, goofy, live wire star of stage and screen throughout the 80s and 90s, whose career nosedived spectacularly, due to a mix of well-documented physical and mental health problems. However, in recent times he has bounced back, and here demonstrates he has lost none of his trademark chaotic improvisation skills, whilst presenting a more humble, all-too-human side during a first half conversation with host Erica Lear.

Looking like a slightly sozzled Santa Claus, apparently caught unawares on a Boxing Day morning, Slattery walks gingerly to the tiny stage, like a rat-arsed fearful hamster, and is welcomed by a genuinely respectful and heartfelt round of applause. It's a small, but perfectly formed audience, which suits this curiously intimate show that is half interview, half improvisational comedy (with fellow performer, the host's husband, Allan Lear). 

Erica Lear, Allan Lear, and Tony Slattery.

Doubling as the show's producer. Erica Lear is an unashamed huge fan of Slattery, revealing him to be her childhood crush, which amuses the great man himself no end. Lear clearly loves her guest, and never misses an opportunity to gently rib him for his roles in the universally derided 'Carry On Columbus', and a series of uninspired tv commercials for the likes of Abbey Life and Labatts lager. Slattery responds good-naturedly by revealing a Private Eye magazine joke that his old answerphone used to have the recorded message "Hello, it's Tony Slattery. I'll do it". Covering his Cambridge years with fellow students Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, etc., there is a real sense of personal tragedy at the role call of Oscar winners and beloved National Treasures. Whilst his friends were reaching the heights, the equally talented Slattery hit rock bottom. Yet, he seems to take it all in his stride, and is often near to tears when talking about his old mates. Occasional roles in tv series Kingdom, Coronation Street, and The Royal kept him afloat through recent years, and a 2020 BBC documentary revealed memories of childhood trauma, substance abuse and alcohol dependency. Much of this was covered here, tonight, but carefully handled by Erica Lear, as Slattery's ruthlessly honest self analysis was kept in check.

For the second half, it was all-out entertainment as Slattery and comedy actor Allan Lear played out a series of comic improvisation scenes with the help of a couple of enthusiastic audience volunteers. Off the cuff humour combined with surreal slapstick to produce a thoroughly enjoyable show, with participants and observers often on the verge of hysterics.

On stage, Slattery is a consummate performer, talking candidly about his drink and drug problems, long road back to performing live, and the rigours of falling in love during the terrifying AIDS era, and the stigma of being tested for HIV. With his long-time partner in the audience, sitting just a few feet away from the stage, the atmosphere was electric.  

Slattery's pairing with the impressive Allan Lear is inspired, with the two bouncing off each other perfectly. Lear often provided the ignition to an oft times bewildered looking Slattery, who always rose to the occasion as though some long buried memory had been revived - or resuscitated. 

A focussed audience were hanging on every word, delighting in each convoluted twist of the narrative. Slattery child-like, seemingly on the verge of derangement.

If you're a Tony Slattery fan, you will love this show. The format is nigh on perfect. If you don't know him from Adam, it makes no difference. This is sheer entertainment, with a poignant, affecting, and inspiring core.

Touring 2024/25