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.
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Bosco239, youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Stuart, Chortle
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube