www.IanBlairWatt.co.uk

Actor, Writer and Comedian

Review of Ian as Dad's Army star John Laurie in
JOHN LAURIE, FRAZER & I
directed by Charlie Chuck
at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2002

(published 15th August 2002) Review by William McEvoy He played alongside Richardson, Gielgud and Olivier while Hitchcock directed his first film but John Laurie will always be remembered as Frazer in Dad's Army. Ian Watt takes us on a brisk tour of the life and times of the Scottish actor in this informative biographical note. Watt, dressed in Home Front uniform and with Denis Healey eyebrows, is a confident performer but this one-hour monologue is a little too evenly paced and incident free. If there is a theme, it is Laurie's resentment at being pigeonholed in life as the cranky former undertaker he played on TV. Laurie recalls his glory days at the Old Vic as a leading Shakespearean actor but his career never took off. We find out about his neglected work in films like The 39 Steps with Peggy Ashcroft and when he lands the role in Dad's Army, it is a bit like getting an actor's pension. He knows he has arrived when he makes it on to Morecombe and Wise. Rather threadbare at the end as its descends into anecdotes about cast members John Le Mesurier and Arthur Lowe, this piece of theatre has a simple, no frills charm. To return to Ian's homepage, CLICK HERE

FEATURE Sunday Times Ecosse OTHER 2002 REVIEWS Edinburgh Guide Metro Dad's Army Society The Independent OTHER 2001 REVIEWS "Stand Up Scotland"

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