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On
Thursday the 22nd of August 2002, I visited the above show being
held in the Caves of the Gilded Balloon, Cowgate, Edinburgh, which
was part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
It was in the form of a Monologue performed by Ian Watt, and I found
it to be the best hour of entertainment I have had in a long time.
The
dark cave shaped interior and backless benches added to the atmosphere.
The
only props he had was a table and chair, and on the table was a
Photo Frame, a Whisky Bottle, a Skull, a telescope and thick book.
The table was covered by an orange cloth, perhaps black would have
been more appropriate!!!
The
show opened to peals of thunder with Frazer coming in wearing his
Home Guard uniform and Pike’s scarf. There were no shoulder
flashes on his tunic, but he did make reference later in the show
to the CP 1 flash for Perry and Croft.
Ian’s
likeness to Frazer was amazing, although the eyes were not quite
so round, and the voice was not as deep as Frazer’s, but it
was a remarkable similarity nevertheless. He described himself as
a cantankerous auld scunner, always trying to rain on Mainwaring’s
Parades.
He
started with a lot of Frazer’s background and history, changing
over to the life of John Laurie, starting from his birth, through
his training as an Architect, (his first wage was £5.00 per
annum), the 1st World War, his roles in Shakespeare at the Old Vic
and his appearance in films in the 30s, his time actually in the
HG during WW2 and right up to his Dad’s Army Role which he
regarded as a Pension.
We
were treated to a short reading from the Poetry Book on the table.
This was a poem about the Tay Bridge Disaster by William Topaz McGonnagle.
No reflection on Mr Watt who recited it beautifully, but the one
verse was enough, as McGonnagle is regarded as Scotland’s worst
Poet if not the World’s. You just have to read his work to
know why!!!!
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The
Photo Frame contained a picture of Jesse, and the letter asking for
money was brought out. Another excellent touch was when a miniature
coffin was produced, in which the old miser kept his gold Sovereigns.
Mr
Watt continued alternating between the life of John Laurie and James
Frazer. The John Laurie side was very interesting and the Frazer
side amusing. References to The Auld Empty Barn and Mainwaring as
a puffed up auld blether kept the audience amused, as did his thoughts
on the other Members of the HG Platoon. Although in some cases,
in the true Frazer style the comments were not complimentary, they
were put across in a pleasant way, e.g. "Yon Godfrey –
He’s falling to bits." In the John Laurie role, he paid
tribute to Arnold Ridley and the other actors, mentioning the wounds
that Arnold Ridley had received during WW1. Compliments were also
paid to the writers of DA.
Again
in the John Laurie role, he mentioned he had the honour of switching
on the Blackpool illuminations one year.
We
were reminded that we were hearing all this from someone who had
been dead 23 years.
Considering
the career which John Laurie had, I found it remarkable that a couple
of years ago I had to draw Dumfries Council’s attention to
the fact he was not listed on their Web Site in the Famous Sons
Section. It was put on within a few days!!!
All
in All it was an excellent hour of entertainment. Mr Watt had done
his research on both John Laurie and James Frazer thoroughly, and
I was able to speak with him after the show. I pointed out my only
criticism, that being that Frazer had also spent some time on the
Isle of Mingulay. I arranged for him to receive the Daicop Files
on Frazer and the Funeral Parlour, and he was going to try and arrange
a copy of a Video or a Cassette of the show for the DAAS libraries.
I have no doubt the DAAS Members will enjoy it as much as I did.
However,
I did forget to ask him why he was wearing Pike’s Scarf???
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