EDINBURGH 2023: Review: ... AND THIS IS MY FRIEND MR. LAUREL, Pleasance Courtyard

As a child most of what I did revolved around cinema. Being taken to the pictures by my parents, reenacting scenes from some of my favourite movies and watching films on repeat. Films like Toy Story, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and of course, Laurel and Hardy.

Acquiring my love for the boys from my father, Mr. Stan Laurel and Mr. Oliver Norvell Hardy (the third) were such a commonality in my younger years, I’d go so far as to call them heroes of mine.

With this in mind one must respect just how much is on the line when any project aims to replicate the duo and their story; will the performances capture both men appropriately? Will their story be dealt with care? Will it be respectful? All of this is doubled when walking into a Laurel & Hardy project that is held in such high regard as Jeffrey Holland's ...And This is My Friend Mr. Laurel.

The story revolves around one of Stan Laurel's last visits to his pal Oliver "Babe" Hardy in the later years of the duo's lives, long after the shooting of their final film together Atoll K and shortly after Ollie had suffered a stroke. It's a simple story but one that triumphs due to the audience's understanding of the famed actors. With this in mind, it is by placing Stan Laurel in a situation where he doesn't have his screen partner to bounce off of that the play succeeds, as we slowly watch Stan unravel on stage.

What starts out as a friendly visit, joking and laughing, reliving the good old days, slowly descends into Stan filling the silence with his own worries, regrets and fears. It can be a little difficult to become accustomed to the fact that we are seeing a much older Stan Laurel on stage, one whom we would never see on film, admittedly, and it can be equally as difficult to detach oneself from the image of him that we saw in the movies compared to this more genuine, personal portrayal that we are now seeing. However, Jeffrey Holland is more than up to the task.

Holland's performance is really what brings the show to life. There may be some overly expositional dialogue and Holland has the difficult task of portraying both Laurel and Hardy at points, but it is his performance that maintains quality control and allows for the show to remain as consistent as it is. Though his Oliver Hardy accent may be somewhat lacklustre he more than makes up for it in his body language, masterfully mimicking "Babe" Hardy's mannerisms. However, it is in the recreations of some of the pair's most famous scenes that Holland really shines, perfecting Stan Laurel to a tee.

...And This is My Friend Mr. Laurel isn't just a funny reproduction of some of the boys' most famous gags, it is a well crafted production that dives deep into the psyches of one of the greatest comedy performers of all time. It will make you laugh, but it will also make you cry.

Though the show may not be the best entry way for anyone looking to get into the work of Stan and Ollie it is most certainly a delight for hardcore fans of the pair. More than anything though, it is wonderful to see a busy theatre full of Laurel and Hardy fans over a hundred years after they were first put on screen together.

...And This is My Friend Mr. Laurel is at the Pleasance Courtyard until 28 August.

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