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