Where the Blackadder feared to tread – that is the territory occupied with resolution and wit by Simon Munnery and Miles Jupp in Stewart Lee’s take on the first Elizabethan age.
The plot of Elizabeth And Raleigh – passingly relevant as an excuse to move things along – has Raleigh wooing the Virgin Queen only to find her truculent, indeed downright vengeful, in the face of his romantic entreaties.
The Queen is played with the sort of comic force of persuasion that Munnery brought to his TV persona in Attention Scum! She/he repairs to her trampette to bounce off her anger while Miles Jupp – comically versatile in a Hugh Laurie vein – energetically counts the ways he loves her.
This is advanced panto fare – with knowing quips to the audience, sharp ad libs, mashed potato as a form of torture and soiled underpants as a makeshift crown. But amid the setpiece ribaldry, there’s nifty wordplay, dextrous acting, and, despite the odd codpiece gag, the script happily steers clear of the lowest common denominator.
The audience at Greenwich Theatre was not large and the wind outside was whipping and cold. The pair – old hands at this kind of thing – did a handsome job of warming an initially bewildered audience (what is this, we wondered as Raleigh gave us a slide show featuring Jimmy Carr), finally bringing us to our feet for a closing rendition of the national anthem.
God save this gracious queen.
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
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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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Bosco239, youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter