Steptoe & Son

Steptoe and Son is probably the best British comedy ever. Featuring late stars, Wilfred Brambell and Harry H Corbett, this was an excellent show which never failed to amuse and was true to life. Wonderful scripts by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson made 'Steptoe' a classic.

The show features pensioner Albert Steptoe and his son Harold Steptoe (a pair of rag and bone men). They bickered, they fought, and they sulked and generally got on each other's nerves. But underneath, there was a mutual love. Carlton Players chose three episodes from the final television series, to entertain the audience at the Little Theatre Birkenhead, and entertain it did in spades.

Steptoe and Son, directed by Steve Youster, includes Desperate Hours; Séance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard; and Live Now P.A.Y.E later.

Desperate Hours

The Steptoe’s are in desperate straits. It’s the dead of winter.  There’s no money, only one tiny heater, and the meter keeps running out. Harold’s mucking about with the radio and intercepts an announcement. Two dangerous criminals are on the loose having hopped it from the scrubs (500 meters) down the road, the meter runs out, they are plunged into darkness. The door goes. Albert goes to answer it and Harold attempts to stuff the meter with foreign coins, muttering in the dark. He finally finds something to fit the meter, the lights go on and turning round he finds his Dad at the mercy of two dangerous, hardened criminals from the scrubs. The criminals soon realise they have chosen the poorest house in London for refuge.

Before too long our characters have paired off with Harold (Mike Sanders) and Spooner (Ted Grant) bemoaning the uselessness of their older partners, Albert (Keith Hill) and Ferris ( Barry Prescott) pouring scorn on the younger two for their lack of gratitude and respect for the old.

It really is remarkable the way the script flips between the two you find yourself rooting for Spooner and Ferris in a way you never quite expected when they first appeared. Recognising someone who seems to be in the same pickle as he is, Harold cosies up to Spooner. Within seconds he’s bumming cigarettes off him. Wonderful performances from Mike and Keith, they were hysterical.

Séance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard

Albert comes in late one night having got involved with séances and local medium Madame Fontana (Debbie Smith), who communicates with the dead via her spirit guide Geronimo. Albert informing Harold of his conversations with Ghandi, Henry VIII and Christopher Columbus is a masterclass. Well Done, Keith. Harold is sceptical and messes about when Albert produces the Ouija board, claiming to have contacted Hitler, Great comic timing Mike great job. However Madame Fontana) reminiscent of Madame Arcarti) comes to the house to give a séance, along with Dorothy (Dawn Ashford), a widow Albert hopes to marry. Through Madame Fontana the old couple discover that their late spouses want them to marry. Harold's cynicism leads to the discovery that Albert has told Dorothy he is very well off and the medium is actually her daughter working a scam. Albert has a lucky escape.

Live Now P.A.Y.E Later

Harold discovers that Albert has 'neglected' to inform the tax department that his wife has died 40 years previously. When the tax inspector (Ted Grant) calls to investigate Albert’s wife’s situation, Harold gets him drunk and he agrees to give 'her' a back-dated pension, which was then delivered by the DWP man (Richard Isles). The drawback is Albert has to drag up to claim it which attracts an unwanted admirer (Barry Prescott). Eventually Albert tells the tax office that his wife has passed away. However, Albert forgot to tell Harold about the fake daughter for whom he was claiming, thus requiring Harold to drag up as his sister. As you can imagine comic chaos ensues.

The set is the living room great attention to detail mirroring the TV series. Loved the skeleton and the one bar fires. Behind this main set, there is the street scene leading up to the stable and yard.  This was clever and worked really well for all three plays, as we experienced the comings and goings.  The costumes were spot on totally believable of their characters. We experienced a few gremlins with sound and lighting, which was unfortunate. However that did not detract from the commitment on stage.

Keith and Mike are outstanding in their roles; the audience with them every inch of the way, very fine performances by two very talented actors.

Thank you Carlton Players for a very entertaining evening.  I am looking forward to my next visit.

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