'Stop Messing About - A Kenneth Williams Extravaganza.' theatre review - Nowt2Do.Com: Listings and Reviews for Bristol and Beyond!


	From 1965 until 1968 one comedy show shone like a Beacon from BBC Broadcasting House. “Round The Horne” was a weekly collection of catchphrases, parodies, innuendo and memorable characters anchored by the rich baritone of Kenneth Horne. KENNETH HORNE: "First, the "Where Do You Find It?" question. Well, the answer came in several parts, as follows: wound round a sailor's leg; on top of the wardrobe; floating in the bath; under a prize bull; and in a lay-by on the Watford Bypass. At least, I found one there - couldn't use it - it was covered in verdigris. I gave it to the Scouts, actually, and they exhibit it proudly next to a daguerreotype of Baden-Powell's woggle." Around the dead pan delivery of Mister ‘orne, as Julian of Julian and Sandy fame called him, were the comic talents of Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, Bill Pertwee and Kenneth Williams. The much-loved Kenneth Horne suffered a heart attack and died on Valentines day 1969 leaving a gaping hole in the comic firmament and a gaping hole in the BBC Light programme schedule. The fifth series of Round the Horne had already been planned, what to do? Step forward Kenneth Williams. It was decided that Williams would host his own – new – show. In effect it drew heavily on the “Round The Horne” tradition of double entendre and continued the collaboration of Williams with Hugh Paddick, BBC announcer Douglas Smith (whose role was not unlike Kenneth Horne’s) and latter day Horne writers Brian Cook and Johnny Mortimer. The new voice was that of Joan Sims of Carry On fame taking over from Betty Marsden. With the new team in place the show was christened “Stop Messing About” – one of Williams’ catchphrases - and off they went. On the day of the first transmission Williams wrote in his diary that "It was mediocre and played to a half empty house ... Joan said 'Let's face it dear, our careers are in the ash can...'" Of a later edition, however, he wrote that "It went like a bomb. I was very pleased with the marvellous reception ... and it's a triumph in the face of the terrible adversity of KH's death.” Here then, is the stage show from the same team that had previously mounted the hugely successful Round the Horne ... Revisited, using three of the same actors. Robin Sebastian inhabits Kenneth Williams, Nigel Harrison is marvellous as Hugh Paddick, Charles Armstrong is a fine Douglas Smith and India Fisher – the voice of Masterchef – is a splendid Joan Sims. But this so-called Kenneth Williams Extravaganza does not hit the high notes of that “Round the Horne” stage show. Whilst the performers are universally excellent the material is now forty years old and frankly lame. You cannot help but feel there is something missing. That something is undoubtedly Kenneth Horne. Here we have a stage show of a radio show that didn’t really take off, running as it did for just two years. The gags now feel hackneyed, laboured; the sketches have little sparkle and the innuendo, so daring in the late sixties, lazily stereotypical.