Bringing sunshine (From Harrow Times)

Bringing sunshine

2:08pm Thursday 18th February 2010 in

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We Brits are really very silly people,” states actor Bob Golding. Which is why, he suggests, Morecambe and Wise with their particular brand of silliness still retain such a place in the hearts of the nation.

It is this enduring affection, plus in no small part Bob’s uncanny, sensitive portrayal of one-half of this classic comedy duo, that has made the one-man show, Morecambe, such a rip-roaring success, 25 years on from Eric Morecambe’s untimely final curtain.

Premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, the show received seven five-star reviews, before transferring to the West End and embarking on a 120-date national tour. Such a “meteoric year” has been topped by two Olivier nominations for Best Entertainment and Best Actor in a Musical.

“It’s been amazing, ”Bob beams. “We really didn’t expect the show to get the attention it got. We just wanted to take it to Edinburgh as a thank you to Eric.”

Remembering back to the start of this whirlwind, Bob, who voiced the characters of Milo and Max in the Tweenies, modestly admits that he had a few nerves about the project.

“My initial worry was technically being able to remember everything, learn 60 pages of monologue, 150 sound cues, and god knows how many props,” says the 39-year-old actor. “All that was scary enough, but then it suddenly dawned on me that I was playing a national treasure and I’d better do him justice.

“Myself, Guy Masterson (director) and Tim Withnall (writer) are such massive fans, it was important for us to get across how much we loved him, which is how the nation felt too.”

A touching portrait of Eric’s life, the play documents his early years with his supportive and influential mother Sadie, his relationship with Ernie, the duo’s struggle to get noticed and finally their rise to stardom, with nods to those famous sketches: from Morecambe Pier and André Preview, to tumbleweed and Glenda Jackson.

“Obviously, there a lots of gags, but then Eric’s health was always dodgy so we have to deal with that, he had three heart attacks, he lost his parents in 1977 and the fact that he isn’t here anymore is very sad. There are lots of laughter and a few tears.”

Morecambe arrives at the artsdepot on Sunday, February 28, 8pm, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley. Tickets: 020 8369 5454