An emotional, honourable tribute
The Last Laugh is a delightful return to a simpler time, the kind of silly, heartfelt comedy that reminds me of childhood, sat beside my dad, both of us belly laughing at the screen. Watching it brought back those warm, nostalgic memories, the shared jokes and the way laughter felt like a language all its own. To this day we still crack out the silly, funny one-liners and gags as they are completely timeless.
The play doesn’t try to be overly clever or groundbreaking and that’s exactly its genius. It’s simple in structure, but rich in charm and craft. The humour is daft and cheesy, yes, but in the best possible way. It’s the kind that gets you laughing before you even realise it.
It’s not just a play, it’s a feeling.
So aptly named, The Last Laugh is a charming, bittersweet one-act wonder that brings together Tommy Cooper (Damian Williams), Bob Monkhouse (Simon Cartwright), and Eric Morecambe (Bob Golding) in a tired old backstage dressing-room.
It brings all the feels, the laughs and japes then a glimpse of a darker side, the “sad clown” trope:
- Cooper’s alcoholism and complicated personal life, Morecambe’s anxieties and fear of dying on stage and Monkhouse’s personal tragedies.
- It cast a melancholic but beautifully poignant shadow and amid the punchlines we saw the men behind the showbiz mask and the vulnerability of the showman.
- The play doesn’t shy from addressing “dying a death” on stage, the fear, the pressure to make people laugh no matter what.
The dressing-room set, with flickering mirrors, old costumes, relevant theatrical paraphernalia, and black‑and‑white portraits of comedy predecessors, grounds you firmly backstage.
Lighting and sound add eerie undertones as though this ghost like meeting transcends time.
The play is a rapid-fire gag-off, classic jokes, quips and interplay keep you laughing almost non-stop.
Without spoiling the show, expect the play to blend phenomenal performance with poignant reflection, culminating in a soft yet deeply moving finale. The closing words and empty dressing-room imagery leave a lingering sense of what it means to leave an audience, and a life, behind
The Last Laugh tour is a love letter to Britain’s comedy legends, it is fast-paced, touching, and richly layered. While it may resonate most deeply with those who grew up watching these icons, its exploration of pressure, mortality, and friendship ensures universal appeal. For eighty minutes, you’re not just watching impersonators, you’re in the room with old friends, celebrating laughter, legacy, and the difficult grace behind the curtain.
Do stay for the second half, a Q&A session, with audience members leaving questions in a fez in the interval.
The discussion which follows gives an even finer look into the characters and the actors themselves, who it must be said are just as funny in their own skin and with incredible stories to tell.
Is it possible to pay homage honestly and respectfully to such legends? The cast and crew absolutely do with The Last Laugh play without a shadow of a doubt.
It’s a truly emotional, honourable tribute.
The Last laugh Tour is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 12th July 2025. Tickets are available from £15.00 (+ £3.95 transaction fee), General bookings: 0844 871 7615, Access bookings:0333 009 5399, Group bookings:0207 206 1174 or online.
Reviewed by:
I’m a proud MK resident of over 46 years watching it grow from a new town to a bustling business, social and cultural city.
I work in the NHS and enjoy an eclectic social life exploring everything Milton Keynes has in the diary.
