ED2012 4/5 Reviews ED2012 Theatre Reviews

Churchill (Pip Utton / The Assembly Rooms)

By | Published on Friday 24 August 2012

Perennial one man Fringe legend Pip Utton returns once more, this time bringing Churchill to jowly, acerbic life over sixty minutes. Utton’s delivery is remarkable, catching Churchill’s unique intonation and rhythms without resorting to caricature and, unfair though it is to say, he looks quite like Churchill, too. Utton gives us not only the great statesman, but moments of touching intimacy as Churchill talks longingly to his dead wife. Sharply scripted with plenty of laughs to balance the more serious, darker moments – in fact, the best jokes are drawn from Churchill’s own bon mots. The ending is a little bit of a damp squib, but this is a minor quibble in an entertaining, moving and informative hour of drama.

The Assembly Rooms, 1-26 Aug (not 13), 12.00pm.
tw rating 4/5 | [Andrew Bell]



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