GRAHAM Fellows at Preston's Charter Theatre proved once again that he is a master at subtle and well-observed character comedy.
Most of the audience were there to see his finest comic creation John Shuttleworth, the former sweet factory security guard from Sheffield.
It's not so much what John says though Fellows ensures each word in John's seemingly banal and rambling discourses is carefully chosen it's the way he says it.
Often it is the after-thoughts and asides that cause the biggest laughs.
John Shuttleworth undoubtedly works best on radio but the use of CCTV cameras highlighting the character's backstage antics, clever use of video footage and a rousing finale of the song Pigeons in Flight meant that, in John's words, there was plenty of eye candy' too.
Brian Appleton, Fellows's bitter and increasingly paranoid lecturer in popular music, who feels the world has overlooked his crucial contribution to the development of rock n' roll, made a welcome appearance.
And his latest character, builder Dave Tordoff from Goole, was superb. Self-made successful businessman and totally non-politically correct Dave extols the virtues of his company's laser screeding concrete floors and proudly boasts of his wealth and material possessions, including his new 50-inch plasma screen TV.
"You might get one yourself some time," he remarks, adding: "Because they're coming down a bit."
A highly enjoyable evening.
Andrew Thomas
June 5, 2003 11:00
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