Walter Raleigh, in a high state of excitement, believes his many achievements and discovery of the potato and tobacco, will win the hand of Queen Elizabeth. In this endeavour, he is sadly mistaken.
Walter Jupp (sic) does the best with the material given, but his patter falls short. The play only picks up with the grand entrance of QE1, Simon Munnery, dressed to the nines in a black and white gown, pearls everywhere, red ragged wig, painted white face and wearing the ocassional men’s underwear.
The Queen’s entrance is followed by her un-PC attacks on most European countries and everyone not fortunate enough to be English. Munnery manages the right level of disdain and arrogance, lacking in Sir Walter who prances around the stage like a lost teenager in love.
There are a few good scenes, such as the ships passing in the fog and the Queen giving Sir Walt his own medicine, that is, feeding him mashed potatoes. The whole project, however, needs to be tighter and is desparate for more jokes. These two historical characters should have been a wonderful opportunity for amusing banter, but Blackadder did it much better years ago.
The set is attractive albeit minimal. Having a mute servant girl play various musical instruments was a nice touch. Even though Stewart Lee has written several two handers, the script let everyone down.
There is a story that Queen Elixabeth was very conscious of hygiene. She took a bath once a year even when she didn’t need it. Simon Munnery certainly looked the part.
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Keilloh, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Bosco239, youtube