I went into this production knowing nothing of Charlie Williams — and came out, intrigued, engaged, and wanting to learn more. Framed around British comedian Charlie Williams interview ahead of receiving an MBE, the script dives through time using only two actors, strong physicality, and a bit of light projection. These simple elements are used to great effect.
The script had a solid story that wove in and out of time periods well, and in my view did a good job being an “issue play” without feeling contrived. It brought nuance and thoughtfulness to the story, and kept a solid pace. It uses humour and self-reference, as well as a broken fourth wall to achieve a real connection with the audience. There were no parts of the story that felt unnecessary. Note this is an extended version of the play that ran at Edinburgh Fringe 2022.
The two actors were equally exceptional. Tony Marshall plays Charlie Williams at an array of ages, physicalising the changes with a subtle and detailed set of choices. His emotional range is exceptional, and demonstrated through considered work here; he is both funny and sad. Nick Denning-Read plays so many characters I lost count; as the only other actor in the play he portrays literally every person who turns up in Williams’ story. From football stars to fellow comedians, school teachers to backup singers. His comic timing is brilliant, and his accent work is award worthy on its own (not to take away from the rest of his performance!)
The direction was even handed, with a clear musicality to the interpretation of the text. The space was used effectively, with clever placement, objects transforming, and spaces transitioning seamlessly. Not to mention the finely tuned pacing which gave the actors a clear score in which to bring forth their exceptional performances.