Ian Watt - Edinburgh Guide Review of "John Laurie, Frazer & I"

If you're of a certain age you'll love this show. There, in the flesh, in front of you, in a cellar in Edinburgh is John Laurie dressed as Private Frazer in Dad's Army. I kid you not - it's him I tell you! "Ah. It can't be" you say, "He'd be 102 years old?" Apparently not! This is a studied performance. Laurie's mannerisms and idiosyncrasies are all there but so are Frazer’s and there's the trick; telling the two apart.

There's masses of detail about Laurie's life too, all fascinating and surprising. He may have played a dour undertaker but Laurie was in fact, just the opposite. A veteran of the Somme, he left his home in Dumfries and joined the Royal Artillery. He survived the war, unlike his brother and with his newly broadened horizons, he chose to spend his holidays at acting school in London. As so often happens, he met the right person at the right time and they told him he had talent. John Laurie was on his way.

The uniform Ian wears is, I'm sure original. It looks the part anyway and there’s an interesting secret about the Dad’s Army uniforms I won’t reveal; suffice to say that I laughed! John Laurie, Frazer and I is Ian Watt’s concept and Charlie Chuck's production; he's also directing and a fine job he's done too.

Reluctantly the piece gets one dram for the seating and for the sound effects which were a bit off cue. But do not let that put you off. This is a superb performance and if you like Dad's Army you'll be very glad you went.

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