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