2018 marks, quite worryingly, forty years since the television series of Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em disappeared from our screens. The show that gave rise to one catchphrase and several impressionists careers had run for three series, and had three Christmas specials, and now, after all this time, reappears as tremendously funny, and superbly calamitous, as it ever was.
It is, of course, impossible to think of Frank Spencer without crediting the simply amazing comic genius (and incredible stunt work) of Michael Crawford. He created a uniquely individual character for whom disaster was a middle name – but just imagine what could have been if he had taken that character, refined him, and allowed him the freedom and unpredictability of a live theatre performance.
Joe Pasquale does exactly that. He has taken Crawford’s original character and added a huge dose of the Pasquale magic that has delighted audiences for over twenty years. This is not a tribute to Frank Spencer, it is his rebirth. The raincoat and beret are still there but, with only brief appearances, they no longer define the character.
The slapstick comedy, and stunt work, however are still very much evident and, on Simon Higlett’s fantastic set and with help from the clever lighting by Matt Haskins and Ian Horrocks-Taylor’s sound design, disasters happen with increasing frequency and all are accomplished with impeccable comic timing.
Sarah Earnshaw is perfect as Frank’s long suffering (and newly pregnant) wife Betty. Her loyalty to her accident prone husband is incredibly touching and her stoicism provides the audience with a surprising poignant ending to the show.
At the other end of the scale is Betty’s mother Barbara Fisher, played to perfection by the amazing Susie Blake. Her dislike for the walking disaster that is Frank comes across so well and, as she works her way through a whole bottle of homemade prune wine, her superb performance just keeps gets better and better.
Moray Treadwell, David Shaw-Parker and Chris Kielty appear as the other five characters in this tale, which is a bit like watching two or three episodes of the TV series rolled into one movie length show.
Faithfully based on the original TV series by Raymond Allen, Guy Unsworth has written a very clever script that is sure to keep the “Some Mothers” fans happy but that also allows Pasquale room to expand the character and take him to a whole new level.
There is no doubt that taking such an iconic character from the screen to the stage is a very dangerous task but, in the incredibly capable (but quite slippery) hands of Joe Pasquale, Frank Spencer has burst into the 21st century with a bang – well, several bangs really!
***** Five Stars