Honor `Pussy Galore` Blackman stars as mystery guest in Newcastle Theatre

01-Mar-2005 • Actor News

The audience who packed Newcastle Theatre Royal last night were looking for something to bring them sunshine. And they just happened to be in luck - reports icNewcastle.

Not only was this a brand new production of the popular Morecambe and Wisesque The Play What I Wrote a show which has enjoyed two crowd-pulling visits to Tyneside and a smash West End run.

But the audience were also well and truly Honor-ed with the presence of a bona fide (and exceedingly elegant) British treasure.

Former James Bond girl and Avenging glamourpuss Honor Blackman received a rousing welcome when she was revealed as the mystery celebrity in the ambitious, innovative and ultimately delightful tribute show aiming to recreate and celebrate the magic of the legendary comedy duo - without anyone actually pretending to be Eric, or indeed Ernie.

If it sounds puzzling on paper it remained so even as the curtain fell on Act One.

We had met Clive Hayward and Kim Wall - a modern-day double act with opposing views on the merits of doing a Morecambe and Wise tribute show.

While Clive had his thick-rimmed specs and humming-bird style face slaps at the ready, Kim had become disillusioned with the act and was intent on producing his serious play - a piece set during the French Revolution, titled A Tight Squeeze For The Scarlet Pimple. As was absolutely intended, a constant sense of "been here before - but not quite" descended as the familiar gags came and went. Then the lights came up for the interval.

The buzz in the bar was all about who the special guest was going to be (every performance has one). I found myself wondering where the second half was going.

The luminous staircase, top hats, dance routines and the perfect delivery of Ernie - I mean Kim's - excruciating script quickly brought to mind the second unrepeatable phrase of the day involving a bucketful of laughter and warm memories of a timeless institution.

As Honor sipped on champagne in her dressing room, she said: "Don't even try to explain the first half. Just look at the smiles on the faces of everyone as they leave. It's such fun. I love it."

Thanks to `Ken` for the alert.