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The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'When we saw him collapse live on stage, we didn't know what happened'
The memories of the death of Cooper over 40 years ago still burn bright. 'When we saw him collapse on stage we didn't know what happened,' the actor recalls. 'But this was the days of Ceefax, so we turned it on and discovered the reality. He adds: 'I've since found out that the girl who put Tommy's cloak on him at the final moment was so traumatised she gave up the business straight after.' Cooper, the six-feet four-inch magician whose every bone in his body was funny has since featured episodically in the performance life of Damian Williams. 'I heard a few years ago that producers were looking for someone to play Tommy, and they couldn't find anyone,' says the Essex-born actor. 'It was a friend of mine who asked if they'd seen Damian Williams, and they had no idea who I was. Anyway, I auditioned and was literally offered the part before I'd left the building.' The show is on at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow (Image: PAMELA RAITH) Willams then toured with that play. 'I kept coming back to him and then Paul Hendy wrote the (short) film The Last Laugh, which evolved into the current stage play." The actor acknowledges that playing Tommy Cooper is not about offering a standard impression. 'We've all tried to steer clear of doing that,' he says of the comedy trio. 'But it's hard to find footage of Tommy when he's not being Cooper. The routines are no problem, I love doing them, so for the rest you just have to try and imagine what he would have been like in those circumstances.' He adds, by way of example, 'Years ago I did a stage version of Up Pompeii, in which I played Frankie Howerd. And I made a choice not to be a Frankie Howerd tribute act. The play was funny enough in itself.' Williams does admit to picking up lots of Tommy mannerisms over the years, 'just by watching him and being a fan.' Yet, Cooper is far from simply being a gags machine. His personality adjective seems to cry out 'melancholic.' Is that fair? 'Yes, it is. He had lots of health problems over the years, and he drank quite a lot. You can see interviews with him, and you think 'God, he was pissed there.' It was a challenge for him to get on stage on time. The Last Laugh is packed full of gags, as you would expect, but it doesn't stay away from offering insight into the stresses, the pressures of performance. And it dissects the threesome's comedic abilities, with Monkhouse conceding the other two are naturally funny, while he has to work hard at it. 'And we show how these guys know what their job is – and that's to go out there and be funny, regardless of what they're having to deal with in their private lives.' What would have happened if these three entertainment giants had actually come together at one point? 'I think the play is probably very close to getting it right,' says the actor. 'There is a lot of pi**taking, a lot of banter, and Tommy and Bob were good friends, and Tommy was also really good friends with Eric. I've got a great photo of Tommy at Eric's daughter's birthday party at their home.' Read more Williams knew Bob Golding, who plays Eric Morecambe. 'We both play Dame in panto,' he says, (Williams is the winner of British Panto's Great Dame Award) both working for (writer/producer) Paul Hendy. And we'd seen Simon Cartwright in a play A Man Called Monkhouse. In fact, it was while watching the play that Hendy had an epiphany. 'He announced 'Hold on! I've got you playing Tommy Cooper, Bob playing Morecambe and Simon playing Monkhouse. There has to be something in that.' What Williams brings to his work is a range of experience few modern-day actors can claim. 'I left school aged 15 and managed to land a place in a rep theatre company,' he recalls, 'which is so unheard of now. And the bloke running the rep said, 'You don't need to go to drama school - because I can teach you everything you need to know.' And he did.' Rep theatre is (in)famous for chaos, sets falling down, catching fire . . . What are his favourite worst moments? He smiles. 'Well, there was one time we were half-way through doing an Agatha Christie play and this bloke wearing a hi-vis jacket walked across the back of the stage and began to measure the set. I thought 'What the f*** is this?' Did this lovely juxtaposition of period play costumes and modern-day health and safety uniform sit well with the audience? 'Yes, they were in stitches. And it turned out he was the lorry driver sent to collect the set and take it to the next venue. But he didn't realise the play was going on.' He laughs. 'And we kept on going on.' There were many such surreal moments. 'I remember once working on a play called Bedside Manners and I had to stand at a concierge's desk, reading from a big book. And as I opened the book, the lights went up and a butterfly flew down from the dress circle, in full spotlight and landed on the page. The audience gasped at the sheer delight of this moment, and I said 'Sorry, no pets!' and it flew off again, and I got a massive laugh. But after the show, some of the audience asked 'Does this happen every night?' And I said, 'Yes, of course. It's a trained butterfly.' "But that was better than the bat which dive bombed us for ever during a performance of John Godber's Bouncers. We couldn't get rid of it, and the audience were in hysterics.' The Last Laugh, the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, July 15-19
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Bombarded Bill Nye With Endless Anti-Vax Text Screeds
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent a flood of texts to Bill Nye trying to convince the beloved 'Science Guy' of his anti-vax claims. The old text chain, sent before Kennedy became Donald Trump's health secretary, was revealed by Nye during a Men's Health profile of the children's television presenter. The barrage of messages from the prominent vaccine skeptic, which the magazine described as 'miles and miles of texts,' contained numerous links to articles and websites peddling vaccine-autism conspiracies that Nye said he paid no real attention to. 'Just no self-awareness,' Nye said. 'And if you read these articles he sent, they're all this speculation about autism and just cause-and-effect, and mercury in vaccines, that maybe there's a connection. I wrote him back and said, 'Okay, I'll read your book. I think you've confused causation with correlation. Your friend, Bill.'' The stream of messages did not end there, Nye said, even after he told Kennedy, 'Okay, no more texts.' 'He started again! So I cut him off,' Nye said. 'He does not have good judgment. He is not suited for this job.' The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. Kennedy has led a full-blown assault on vaccines as part of the Trump administration's campaign to restore public 'trust' in the lifesaving shots. That includes the shock move to fire all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an expert panel that evaluates vaccine safety and efficacy. All had been appointed under the Biden administration. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Kennedy said vaccines had become a 'divisive issue in American politics' and that public confidence in the health agencies that provide them is 'waning.' Nye said the increase in vaccine skepticism, which soared amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is having real life negative consequences on people's lives. That includes the reaction to a measles outbreak in Texas that primarily hit unvaccinated individuals in the Mennonite community. 'It was a religious sect with historically low vaccination rates. And the argument from the other side is: They have rights not to get vaccinated. No, you don't,' a frustrated Nye said. 'Unvaccinated people can, and usually do, spread a disease. And that's why we have these rules, for public health! It's not arbitrary. It's not about your rights. It's about my rights, people.' Nye didn't hold back on Kennedy's bizarre public stunts either—like chugging raw milk with health influencer Dr. Paul Saladino to promote the Trump administration's initially error-riddled Make America Healthy Again report on childhood illness. 'And then this thing where people want to drink raw milk. No, you don't,' Nye said. 'This is very well understood! Louis Pasteur! You guyyys! What is happening?' For more, listen to Bill Nye the Science Guy on The Last Laugh podcast.
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
The Last Laugh play about comedy legends coming to Glasgow
The Last Laugh, written and directed by Paul Hendy, will be performed at the Theatre Royal from July 15 to 19. This follows a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The play re-imagines the lives of comedy legends Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse. It is filled with jokes and stories, and is said to be "nostalgic" and "poignant". The lead actors will be reprising their roles from the Edinburgh run. Bob Golding will play Eric Morecambe, a role he previously played in the West End hit Morecambe at the Duchess Theatre. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance. Damian Williams will take on the role of Tommy Cooper, having previously played the comedian in the tour of Being Tommy Cooper. Simon Cartwright has been an actor and impressionist since the 1980s and has appeared on the award-winning Channel 4 show Toast of London. Jamie Wilson, the producer, said: "The team here at JWP were bowled over by the relevance of their timeless comedy and after seeing it myself in Edinburgh, I just knew it had to have a further life so many more people could experience it. "What is so brilliant about this play is the audiences who love and remember Eric, Tommy and Bob will be able to relive their comedy greatness and those that don't, will be introduced to the genius of these national treasures. "I'm so pleased these icons will be back on the London stage for audiences to enjoy." The Last Laugh's set design is by Lee Newby, music and soundscape design by Ethan Lewis Maltby, sound design by Callum Wills, costume design by Amy Chamberlain and casting by Kate Roddy.
Boston Globe
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Five things to do around Boston, March 31-April 13
April 4-13 Pride on Screen See the very best of this year's LGBTQ film at the Wicked Queer film festival. One of the world's longest-running events of its kind, Wicked Queer is back for its 41st year. See feature-length movies, documentaries, and short films that celebrate queer storytelling and filmmaking, at venues throughout Greater Boston. Prices vary. April 5 The Last Laugh Watch Boston's best up-and-coming comedians face off for a $7,000 prize at the Boston Comedy Festival Contest Finals. These eight competitors have been winnowed down from a field of 72 comics. In this final round, at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre, watch them perform their funniest routines for a chance to win over the crowd. $36.95. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up April 5 Advertisement Hard-Core Parkour With the Boston Women's Parkour Workshop, the Dojo at Somernova invites anyone who is female-identifying or nonbinary and at least 14 years old to sample the sport at 10 a.m. on its Somerville course. Staff will be there to teach newcomers the basics, while more seasoned athletes can jump right in. Half-day session starts at $40, free for Cambridge and Somerville high schoolers. April 11 Strung Along Listen to one of the world's most unique ensembles at this performance from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Making its first visit to Boston since 2018, the orchestra will perform an evening of innovative, genre-defying music starting at 8 p.m. at the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. $62. Editor's note: This edition of Your Week Ahead covers two weeks. Look for the next Globe Magazine on April 13. Share your event news. Send information on Boston-area happenings at least three weeks in advance to week@ Adelaide Parker can be reached at
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Shocked ‘Surrounded' Star Sam Seder Most About His MAGA Opponents
The Majority Report host Sam Seder has been a political commentator for more than two decades. But nothing he has done in his long career has brought him quite as much attention as a new video in which he was forced to debate 20 hardcore Donald Trump supporters one by one as part of Jubilee Media's increasingly popular 'Surrounded' series. In this episode of The Last Laugh podcast, Seder breaks down the surreal experience of systematically schooling the shockingly young and diverse MAGA adherents on everything from Social Security to DEI to the prospect of a full-on American theocracy. He also has some choice words for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has taken a very different approach to engaging with the other side. Later, Seder talks about getting his start in political media at Air America, the current state of MSNBC, his long-running voice role on Bob's Burgers and the unexpected benefits of appearing on Sex and the City 25 years ago. It was just after Trump won the 2024 election that Jubilee reached out to Seder about being at the center of one of their 'surrounded' videos. He was only 'vaguely aware' of the series and wasn't sure he wanted to do it at first, but when he mentioned the idea to his 19-year-old daughter, she told him, 'You've got to do that.' Seder, 58, started to see the opportunity as a way to reach young people like his daughter with his progressive message about the vital importance of the government safety net. But he didn't realize until he walked into the giant warehouse in Los Angeles where they shoot the series that he would be making his argument directly to Trump voters who are less than half his age. 'I literally didn't know what I was walking into,' Seder says of the surreal experience, which took place just five days into the new Trump administration as L.A. was still on fire. He flew in from his home in New York for less than 24 hours and then mostly forgot about the whole thing until the 90-minute video dropped in mid-March and briefly took over social media. Below is an edited excerpt from our conversation. You can listen to the whole thing by following The Last Laugh on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and be the first to hear new episodes when they are released every Wednesday. I don't know how much preparation you did ahead of time, but even just when you walked into that room, how were you thinking about how you wanted to approach the situation? Well, they allow you to choose the prompts, the contentions. So I had a notion of the broad strokes of things that we were going to be talking about. I've been doing this now for 20 years. I started in AM talk radio. So a lot of this stuff is stuff that I know. And I always go into these things somewhat prepared, but there's only so much you can prepare. And certainly there were responses that I got from them that I was simply not prepared to address. I was prepared for there to be more people there who were going to be able to engage on the substance of what I was talking about, and there was not a lot of that. Was there a person or argument or moment that surprised you the most? There were two. One of my contentions was, unless you're a billionaire, a religious fundamentalist, or a xenophobic nationalist, you made a mistake in voting for Donald Trump. And it did not occur to me that instead of someone saying, 'Hey, I'm not a billionaire, and I'm not a theocrat, and I'm not a white nationalist, but I care about X, Y or Z, like, I'm worried about inflation'—no one came and said that, instead, what happened was, someone came down and said, 'I am a Christian theocrat, and this is why Christian theocracy is better, because I have a moral foundation for my beliefs.' And it took me longer than I would have wanted to pivot to like, 'Well, let's hear your vision of America, after you get what you want.' And it was 'women subjugated by men,' I'm not paraphrasing. That was the part that was shocking to me. Women subjugated by men, no marriage equality, no marriage for fun, essentially no birth control. It turns out this guy, his avatar on Twitter is 'Women shouldn't vote.' It never occurred to me that someone's going to come and promote that in such a full-throated way. And then there was a woman who followed him who came and said, 'What's wrong with xenophobic nationalism?' Yeah, that was quite a moment. And I was like, oh, OK… I mean, it's healthy, I think, to have your assumptions questioned that way. I think one of the strengths of the country has been immigrants changing America and America changing immigrants. American identity has been evolving since day one. I think that's the strength of America. But I wasn't coming in feeling like, oh, I need to justify this. And I did need to. Why do you think this format resonates with people so much? I think it works because, one, it looks like the Roman Colosseum. It has that dynamic. It's dramatic in that way, and also you don't get bored because there are 20 different people who could jump in at any time. You don't know what you're going to get each time. And so I imagine that's why people find it entertaining and compelling. And I think in this particular instance, people were really just sort of surprised how assured these people were. And how, in many of those instances, completely and quite obviously totally wrong. That's an interesting combo. It's interesting that this video came out right around the same time as Gavin Newsom's podcast, where he is interviewing the biggest names in MAGA, Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon, in what seems like a very different way than what you were doing here. Do you feel like there is a right and wrong way to engage people who have these views? From my perspective there is. And his is the wrong way. I think it's perfectly fine to go and have a conversation with people, and I think it's perfectly fine to share a platform and whatnot. But if I have a conversation with those people, there will be absolutely zero misunderstanding or ambiguity as to where I stand in relationship to them. And the only purpose for that engagement is to point out the flaws in their ideology. If you're doing a podcast with Steve Bannon so that you can have a beer with the guy afterwards, first of all, you're either lying or you're deluded. Because they are paid to create that division, they are paid to get an advantage that is going to help within their political project. And their political project ostensibly, is supposed to be much different than Gavin Newsom's. And so, I'm not going to be friendly in that environment. I will be polite, but in no way does politeness require you to be chummy. And I think that's really unhealthy, because it understates the stakes that are going on in this situation. I mean, Charlie Kirk has said stuff on his program that, if he was on the left, Gavin Newsom would never sit with him because of how antisemitic it is. The idea that Jews have been historically sort of anti-white and that type of stuff—Gavin Newsom wouldn't be caught dead with anybody [on the left who said that]. But the amount of benefit of doubt is gross. What do you think he's up to? Why do you think he's doing it? I think as a political project for Newsom, he's from California. He is perceived as being a flaming liberal, and this is how he repositions himself. In the context of casting, if you play Doogie Howser for five years, and you're done with that show, the next part you take should be more sinister to show that you can play against type. That's what he's doing, and it's for his own political fortunes. But it is at the expense of, I think, our politics broadly. Listen to the episode now and follow The Last Laugh on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes when they are released every Wednesday.
