one4review | On 08, Aug 2018

 

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, actor and former Conservative Member of Parliament. A man who has been round the show biz block and back! And over the next hour we are left in no doubt about Gyles’ showbiz credentials.

Now Gyles is a man of considerable years. A very smart and agile seventy year old and his audience reflects this. As I sit with the great washed, and very nicely turned out, the like of which is rarely seen at an Edinburgh Fringe show. We sit back and listen and admire. Gyles is a natural raconteur and it is a treat to listen to.

We are firstly entertained by a rendition of “Don’t Put Your Daughter on the Stage Mrs Worthington”. We are then told many a show biz tale, anecdotes from his time on the stage. There have been Shakespearean roles alongside Dame Maggie, Sir Ralph, Dame Judy and of course Sir Larry Olivier. He recalls how he first met Sir Larry, the greatest stage actor who ever lived, as a ten year old boy at the stage door. Sir Larry was very kind to him and invited him on stage and offered some acting tips on how to make an entrance. Something which he demonstrates towards the end of the show.

We hear further show biz tales about the delightful and lovely Roger Moore, Ronnie Barker, and Sir John Gielgud. There are stories about the legendary bad boys, such as Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, to the apparently down right unpleasant; Rex Harrison. There are even stories of legends such as Oscar Wilde.The funniest stories involve much loved comedy stars of the 1970’s such as Jimmy Edwards, Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd.  All of whom would probably be arrested on account of their extremely un politically correct stage acts but as Gyles points out, it was indeed, a very different time.  An afternoon delight.

****

Reviewed by Margot
The Pleasance One

until Aug 26th 2018 at 16:00