Review: The Play What I Wrote, Theatre Royal Bath

Oh, the love in the room. I’ve been to a fair few shows in this weird mid-pandemic space, but it was last night, at The Play What I Wrote’s opening night at Theatre Royal Bath, when I truly saw the power of live theatre in action and understood how much people need access to theatre like this.

I’ll say it again: oh, the love in the room. Everyone should see this. It will light up your life.

Why? Because The Play What I Wrote is a big fat parcel of generous, fast, affectionate silliness. While not trying to do ‘a Morecambe and Wise’, this gorgeous show by Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and Eddie Braben brings the spirit of their unique double-act into your life with what’s nothing short of utter genius.

Dennis Herdman and Thom Tuck play ‘themselves’ – a long-standing double-act. Herdman’s the tall funny guy and Tuck’s the (shorter) straight man with a burning desire to write a play.

Their different artistic longings are pulling them apart and so Herdman comes up with a deceit to trick Tuck into appearing in a Morecambe and Wise show (for the princely sum of £5,000 from the glittering West End’s starry producer David Pugh – this show’s real co-producer). How? He tells Thom they’ll be putting on his latest play – and of course, they’ll get themselves the necessary guest star…

(l-r) Dennis Herdman as Dennis, Tom Hiddleston as himself, Thom Tuck as Thom – photo: Geraint Lewis

If you’ve heard of this play – or seen its past incarnations (from Liverpool Everyman in 2001, directed by Kenneth Branagh, then a UK tour, the West End and Broadway), you’ll know about its not-very-secret ingredient: every night, there’s a different and real guest star, whose identity is hidden ’til the very last minute.

Last night, we had Tom Hiddleston, who lived up to the best tradition of Morecambe and Wise’s own guests. Mis-named, mocked, subjected to terrible lines and costumes and ritual humiliations, he was an absolute trooper.

I think that’s why my lasting reaction to last night is about ‘the love in the room’. Morecambe and Wise were ultimately about giving it all away – mocking yourself, casting (and wrenching!) off dignity, and poking pomposity in the fondest of ways. I’m no fan of traditional broad comedy, but although this show looks like it, it’s something bigger and better: it’s very, very funny.

Thom Tuck and Dennis Herdman – photo: Manuel Harlan

And there’s another magic ingredient: Mitesh Soni who plays Dennis’s happy, eager, earnest chum Arthur. Arthur helps Dennis trick Thom by dressing up as producer David Pugh, star Scarlet Johansson and even as Tom Hiddleston (and is genuinely hilarious at every turn). He has a burning artistic passion of his own, and a backstory, too… No – I’m not telling you everything – go and find out!

Sean Foley’s direction, Ian West’s choreography and Alice Power’s design combine with the superlative comic talent to give you a peerless night out.

I very rarely say I would go and see a show twice. I would go and see this every night so I always had a “brand new bright tomorrow”. As the great men sang, “In this world where we live / There should be more happiness”. Here’s your chance – go and see this show.

Thom Tuck and Dennis Herdman – photo: Manuel Harlan

The Play What I Wrote is at Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET until January 22. Tickets area available from www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

Main photo: Geraint Lewis

Read more: Review: Cinderella, Theatre Royal Bath

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