After a rapturous reception in the West End and a spell on tour, The Right Size have returned once again for a limited season with this wonderful comic confection. Celebrating both the inimitable Morecambe & Wise and the dynamic of the double act in general, it's a fast, madcap melee that possesses enormous appeal.

The basic premise of the show is that Hamish McColl, an aspiring playwright a la Ernie Wise, is staging his new play A Tight Squeeze For the Scarlet Pimple unaware that his partner Sean Foley is preparing a tribute to Eric and Ernie instead. From such a humble plot springs what can only be described as an exhilerating, utterly endearing and completely nutty show that manages to both pay homage to a legendary British duo whilst simultaneously looking at what constitutes a successful comedy partnership. Just as in the original TV shows, celebrities play a crucial role here with a different guest appearing each night in a scene from McColl's magnum opus, filled with the sort of ungrammatical delights that used to pepper Ernie's compositions.

On its second London appearance there are moments that occasionally flag, but, bolstered by the excellent Toby Jones, there's inspiration enough to sustain two hours and Foley & McColl work beautifully together; the latter's delight at finding his supposedly stony reception craftily described as really the work of genius- an 'inaudible laugh' - is a superb scene timed to perfection. As the night closes to the strains of the familiar "Bring Me Sunshine" one can say with certainty that indeed the show's brought both joy and laughter aplenty.

(Amanda Hodges)
amandacah@aol.com
Amanda Hodges Web site

Notices from the popular press....

IAN JOHNS for THE TIMES says, "If you’re hoping for face-slapping, front-of-curtain silliness, top hat and tails and Bring Me Sunshine, you won’t be disappointed" NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Bringing back the sunshine." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "A comic masterpiece." RUPERT SMITH for THE GUARDIAN says, "As fresh and funny as last time around." KATE STRATTON for TIME OUT says, "As deliciuosly anarchic, surreal and funny ever ever."

External links to full reviews from newspapers

The Times
Daily Telegraph
The Guardian

(Ernie Wise died two years ago, aged 73, Eric Morecambe died at 58 in 1984)