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20 May 2025
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4****
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Running for over 20 years ‘Only Fools and Horses’ is regularly voted one of the favourite TV comedy programmes ever. John Sullivan created a raft of memorable characters, played by a cast who would become synonymous with them. The musical version created by Sullivan’s son Jim along with Paul Whitehouse had over 1,000 performances (interrupted by Covid) at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London – the longest running show there. The UK tour of the show hit the road very soon after closing in the capital.
Now, if you are unfamiliar with the TV programme or, even the late 1980s certain aspects of the show may well be lost on you, but there is no prerequisite for this and there is much to enjoy. Though a musical, somehow this feels very much like a play with music, the songs just occur as part of the action in the main, no big dance numbers are shoe-horned in because, well, because it’s a musical – it’s refreshing – the exception is a funny nod to ‘One Singular Sensation’ from ‘A Chorus Line’. The script pays homage to the original TV series with references throughout; it is smart and funny writing which plays to the fans of the characters who have flocked to see it. The feeling is one of care and consideration and full respect given to the original.
The actors are not slaves to the original characters, but there is an expectation that they are not going to be too far away from the TV incarnations – in this sense they are presented with more reverence than most modern-day productions of Shakespeare plays. Sam Lupton grabs Del Boy by the scruff of the neck and runs with it, having huge fun along the way. Making his professional stage debut, Tom Major is impressive as Rodney and Philip Childs plays Grandad with great timing and sensitivity. The main three are excellent – there is much pathos within the script and they bring out these moments very effectively between the laughs. Elsewhere Georgina Hagen is super as Cassandra and Lee Vg has a field day as Trigger – along with some of the best laugh lines; Craig Berry and Nicola Munns are great fun as Boycie and Marlene; Richard J Hunt has various roles, but as the dating agent he is particularly hilarious, not least in the song ‘A Bit of A Sort’. The hardworking cast also move the excellent set around without fuss – the designs by Alice Power are very detailed and effective and complemented by some clever and amusing video work. The costumes of Liz Ascroft look as if they have come straight from the TV series and the whole is directed with humour and pace by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Kicking off with the well-known theme song of the TV series all the singing is very good – assisted by excellent sound – the very impressive voice of Gloria Acquaah-Harrison is a real stand out. Under Catherine Benson, the band small band are spot-on.
This is a carefully curated show and impressively presented as well as being fun and entertaining – yes, there are some threads of the story left hanging in mid-air, but it is really of no consequence. For the fans of the TV series, it will be a real treat, for others it is undemanding entertainment which almost has an old-fashioned feel in its simplicity as a musical and that is very much to its advantage.
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Cast
Del Boy – Sam Lupton
Grandad – Philip Childs
Rodney – Tom Major
Raquel – Georgina Hagen
Marlene/Cassandra – Nicola Munns
Boycie – Craig Berry
Trigger – Lee Vg
Denzil – Bradley John
Mickey Pearce/Danny Driscoll – Peter Watts
Dating Agent/Theatre Announcer – Richard J Hunt
Mike the Barman/Tony Driscoll – Darryl Paul
Mrs Obooko/Wedding Fitter – Gloria Acquaah-Harrison
Ensemble – Kieran Andrew/Andrew Bryant/Amanda Coutts/Rhys Owen
Creatives
Based on original TV series by John Sullivan
Book – Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan
Original Music & Lyrics – Chas Hodges, Paul Whitehouse, Jim Sullivan, John Sullivan, Stuart Morley, Dave Peacock
Director – Caroline Jay Ranger
Set Design – Alice Power
Lighting Design – Ian Scott
Costume Design – Liz Ascroft
Sound Design – Rory Madden
Video Design – Leo Flint
Photo Credit – Johan Persson
