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Old Vic

Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy 150 150 mhamer

Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

 pay tribute to a fellow Irishman, and to the Silver Screen's Stan and Ollie, with a great performance from @Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly

Jimmy Cricket writes about his admiration for a legendary comedy duo in his latest newspaper column.

In the 1 April edition of the Lancashire Post, the popular Northern Irish entertainer reviews a recent film about the careers of Englishman Stan Laurel and American Oliver Hardy.

They acted during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema and became well known during the late 1920s to the mid-1940s for their slapstick comedy. Laurel played the clumsy friend of the pompous Hardy.

Jimmy’s column begins: I’ve just come back from doing my one man show at the Slapstick Comedy Festival in Bristol at the Studio adjoining the Old Vic Theatre. The festival was started by a guy called Chris Daniels who just loves visual and silent comedy.

“I did my live set sandwiched between movies of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy up on the big wide screen. There’s been a resurgence of interest in Laurel and Hardy, mainly due to a biopic of the duo which went on general release in our cinemas recently called Stan and Ollie.

“In fact, I’ve been to see it twice. Well folks, our local Odeon Cinema here in Rochdale only charges a fiver to get in. It’s a moving, tender tribute to one of the funniest double acts ever to grace the silver screen; not only do Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel, and John C Reilly as Oliver Hardy get into the skin of these two lovable clowns, but the ladies that played their wives both give stunning performance as well.

“Nina Arianda plays Stan’s other half and Shirley Henderson is Ollie’s. I had a little inside information on this film. Steve Coogan’s Uncle Bernard takes his grandkids to the same school in Rochdale that I take mine, so I get some tasty nuggets of gossip in the playground.

“I looked at him enviously as he told me about getting the red carpet treatment when he got invited to the premiere of the movie up at the local cinema in Ulverston where Stan Laurel grew up. The only time I get to see a red carpet is when Mrs Cricket hands me the Hoover.”

Read Jimmy’s full column here

 

‘Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime’

Enjoyed performing @SlapstickFest in the, “Weston Studio”, at the Old Vic here in the great city of Bristol ?

Jimmy Cricket was told that he “went down a storm” in the 15th Slapstick Festival in Bristol at the weekend.

The famous comedian performed on Sunday (20 January) in The Weston Studio at the Bristol Old Vic.

Since 2005, the festival has hosted more than 300 events for over 100,000 people, introducing rare archive and silent comedy films, and combining them with live music from world-class musicians, well-known guests and film experts.

The organisers said on social media after the event: “Thanks for coming Jimmy – cracking show, went down a storm.”

Jimmy posted: “Enjoyed performing in the, “Weston Studio”, at the Old Vic here in the great city of Bristol.”

He later said: “For the past 15 years, the Slapstick festival has been celebrating Charlie, Buster, Stan and Ollie and all the great visual comedy pioneers of the past. It was an honour and a pleasure to perform my one-man show for them last Sunday at the Bristol Old Vic.”

A member of the audience, Jonathan Sloman, who is a freelance film and TV editor and historian, tweeted: “Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime. A real treat to be at this. Was hypnotised by those boots!”

Other performers at the 33 events over six days included Bill OddieGraeme Garden, Tim Brooke-TaylorBarry CryerLittle & LargeSally Phillips and Dad’s Army’s Frank Williams, who is among those pictured below with Jimmy and his wife May.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Lovely meeting up with old friends Producer and Author and Katherine his wife, alongside Ronnie, and actor Frank Williams, (Rev Farthing in Dad’s Army), after the in Hotel last night.”

Lovely meeting up with old friends Producer and Author @ChrisGidney and Katherine his wife, alongside Ronnie, and actor Frank Williams, (Rev Farthing in Dad’s Army), after the @SlapstickFest in @BristolDoyle Hotel last night ?

Watch Jimmy Cricket at Bristol’s slapstick festival 150 150 mhamer

Watch Jimmy Cricket at Bristol’s slapstick festival

Jimmy Cricket is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon

Jimmy Cricket is taking part in the 15th Slapstick Festival in Bristol at the weekend.

The famous comedian will be performing from 5pm on Sunday (20 January) at The Weston Studio Bristol Old Vic on King Street.

Other performers at the 33 events over six days include Bill OddieGraeme Garden, Tim Brooke-TaylorBarry CryerLittle & LargeSally Phillips and Dad’s Army’s Frank Williams.

The promotional write-up for the festival says: “Jimmy Cricket is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon. With his trademark wellington boots (on the wrong feet), his famous letters from his Mammy and his catchphrases of ‘come closer’ and ‘there’s more’, he holds the hearts of all those that were fans of his TV and radio shows.

“As hilarious as ever, and winning new fans wherever he performs, Jimmy will excite and delight audiences with his special brand of family friendly stand up comedy. A real nostalgic family treat.”

Book tickets to see Jimmy

Read more about Slapstick 2019 here