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