Only Fools and Horses The Musical Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh 5th November 2024 Review
Only Fools and Horses The Musical is at the Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh until Saturday 9th November. This show was always going to be on dangerous grounds as the original television show, created and written by John Sullivan and first brought to our television screens in 1981, has long ago taken its rightful place as one of the greats of British television comedy.
This show captured the hearts of millions of television viewers and gave us all so many iconic characters, and we loved them all. Trying to re-create any of this not only on stage, but in a musical format, was always going to be a difficult task and whoever is cast in the leading roles for this show will always be competing with our memories of the original television cast for our attention. This show was either going to be a recipe for disaster, or a recipe for huge success.
Fortunately, due in no small part to book, music and lyrics by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, with additional music by Chas Hodges and John Sullivan, this show has been a hit with audiences since its first performance in 2019. Time-wise, we have moved forward (from the original first television episode) to 1989 when the working class area of Peckham in London was about to change forever as newcomers saw the area as an up and coming place to live in.
All of the show’s favourite characters are here and some of the iconic moments from the original television series are included here in a script that not only captures the warmth and humour of the original show, but also finds a way to condense a long running story into a few hours on stage.
A big part of re-creating the world of Only Fools and Horses goes tonight to Sam Lupton who, aided by a few familiar costume outfits, gave this audience the Del Boy that they not only wanted, but took to their hearts, and a lively, and often very funny script gave Sam exactly the lines that we expected to hear. His delivery of those lines and how easily he seemed to fall into the huge footsteps that David Jason left behind for this character were impressive. Set Designer Alice Power has also re-created a very recognisable and “Del Boy” familiar world for this show.
This show was also a bit of a Paul Whitehouse show and his “Grandad” was just perfect, and if there is any justice in this world, has to be up for more than a few theatre awards. This was simply a treat to watch one of the best performers of his generation at work on stage.
Poor young Rodney is as always at the wrong end of Del’s humour, and Tom Major, making his first professional debut, can be very pleased with his work on-stage tonight. Underneath all that biting and at times cruel humour, Del Boy loves his brother and the extent to which he will go to help him, even without him knowing, is clear in this show.
There were strong performances too from Georgia Hagen (Raquel), Nicola Munns (Marlene/ Cassandra), Craig Berry (Boycie), Bradley John (Denzil) and Lee VG (Trigger) in their respective roles of these much loved characters. One iconic non-human character from the television show, Del Boy’s yellow van, also makes an appearance on stage too.
This show is of course a musical and, as you would expect, includes lots of working class London pub sing-along songs and some very nice pastiches of other comedy and music routines, with a few unexpected chart hits of the day in here too. How far the London pub sing-along music culturally resonates with audiences the further you away from London is open to debate though.
In the end, this show is a faithful tribute to the original television show that is full of humour, warmth, and the simple bonds that so firmly bind the Trotter family together.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
This show captured the hearts of millions of television viewers and gave us all so many iconic characters, and we loved them all. Trying to re-create any of this not only on stage, but in a musical format, was always going to be a difficult task and whoever is cast in the leading roles for this show will always be competing with our memories of the original television cast for our attention. This show was either going to be a recipe for disaster, or a recipe for huge success.
Fortunately, due in no small part to book, music and lyrics by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, with additional music by Chas Hodges and John Sullivan, this show has been a hit with audiences since its first performance in 2019. Time-wise, we have moved forward (from the original first television episode) to 1989 when the working class area of Peckham in London was about to change forever as newcomers saw the area as an up and coming place to live in.
All of the show’s favourite characters are here and some of the iconic moments from the original television series are included here in a script that not only captures the warmth and humour of the original show, but also finds a way to condense a long running story into a few hours on stage.
A big part of re-creating the world of Only Fools and Horses goes tonight to Sam Lupton who, aided by a few familiar costume outfits, gave this audience the Del Boy that they not only wanted, but took to their hearts, and a lively, and often very funny script gave Sam exactly the lines that we expected to hear. His delivery of those lines and how easily he seemed to fall into the huge footsteps that David Jason left behind for this character were impressive. Set Designer Alice Power has also re-created a very recognisable and “Del Boy” familiar world for this show.
This show was also a bit of a Paul Whitehouse show and his “Grandad” was just perfect, and if there is any justice in this world, has to be up for more than a few theatre awards. This was simply a treat to watch one of the best performers of his generation at work on stage.
Poor young Rodney is as always at the wrong end of Del’s humour, and Tom Major, making his first professional debut, can be very pleased with his work on-stage tonight. Underneath all that biting and at times cruel humour, Del Boy loves his brother and the extent to which he will go to help him, even without him knowing, is clear in this show.
There were strong performances too from Georgia Hagen (Raquel), Nicola Munns (Marlene/ Cassandra), Craig Berry (Boycie), Bradley John (Denzil) and Lee VG (Trigger) in their respective roles of these much loved characters. One iconic non-human character from the television show, Del Boy’s yellow van, also makes an appearance on stage too.
This show is of course a musical and, as you would expect, includes lots of working class London pub sing-along songs and some very nice pastiches of other comedy and music routines, with a few unexpected chart hits of the day in here too. How far the London pub sing-along music culturally resonates with audiences the further you away from London is open to debate though.
In the end, this show is a faithful tribute to the original television show that is full of humour, warmth, and the simple bonds that so firmly bind the Trotter family together.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com