The Stage

Jiggery Pokery

Published Monday 16 November 2009 at 10:45 by Chris High

Frenetic from start to finish, it’s quite possible that Amanda Lawrence was born to play Charles Hawtrey in this world premier production that gets the 2009 Homotopia Festival off to a flyer.

Amanda Lawrence as Charles Hawtrey in Jiggery Pokery

Given the pair’s striking resemblance to each other, it is easy to see how Lawrence might have landed the role and yet the manner in which she embodies each of the 50 or so other characters that made up varying parts of the Carry On actor’s life - including Pater Pan, a fireman by the name of Barry Bullock, Hawtrey’s mother and a particularly cruel Sid James - is simply astonishing. Not only does she live the roles, Lawrence sweats, breathes and at times cries them out of her system.

The set is simple, a manifestation of Hawtrey’s cluttered, drink-sodden existence, filled with junk that would make Steptoe blush. Yet in taking the simplest item, such as teapot or a lampshade, they become transformed in an instant into something quite different, thanks to Lawrence’s exquisite touch and manner.

The use of backing tapes from Hawtrey’s films over which Lawrence mimes dialogue, is masterly and proves that the original comedy is not only timeless, but it was created through painstaking rehearsal.

If there is one complaint, it is that at just short of 90 minutes, it may be ten minutes too long. But this is being picky because without doubt Jiggery Pokery is as funny as it is moving and is a fine tribute to one of Britain’s best-loved comedy actors, despite all the faults that bedevilled him at the end of his life.