Old Big 'Ead in the Spirit of the Man (Brian Clough Takes to the Stage - Literally!

USER (27Apr06): Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company presents Old Big 'Ead in The Spirit Of The Man By Stephen Lowe Birmingham Rep, Wednesday 26 April 2006 Back in the late1960s as a schoolboy I can remember the excitement of what Brian Clough had said and done being discussed even by those with no interest in the game! The man was so well known both for his football management and for his temperament and often arrogance that he was a regular talking point! It has to be said that while manager of Nottingham Forest, his teams won two consecutive European Cups. To many he was football of the period and this play is a fond tribute to the man and the way he played life. Brian’s spirit hears the words Forest and Lost, and descends from heaven where he had been in conversation with D H Lawrence and General William Booth founder of the Salvation Army to rescue his old club from trouble. However, he discovers Jimmy a writer who is going through a crisis both in his work and private life, hence the need for some sound advice and who better to advise than Cloughie! The appearance of Brian Clough’s ghost is a revelation to Jimmy and he takes note of what the great man has to say. What we see over the next couple of hours is Jimmy with the help of his new found friend putting on a play about Robin Hood and trying to make it that bit different. He achieves this and as a result we get a comedy fantasy, play within a play with some wonderfully vivid performances. The use of Brian Clough’s well known “…Young Man” was always funny in real life and has lost none of it’s fun within the play. He called everyone “Young Man” even those years older than himself. Colin Tarrant is perfectly cast as Brian Clough and even looks a bit like him and certainly sounds right, not to mention the mannerisms. He is also very believable as gay actor Gerald a man a million miles away from Clough. And of course, in the play he is none other than Robin Hood. The use of “My Way” the anthem of so many during the 1970s is perfect as this is how Brian Clough operated and played and it works beautifully as an opener and closer for the play. John Lloyd Fillingham, is well cast as and believable as writer Jimmy, and has a great rapport with Colin Tarrant. The whole cast worked hard and well together and it was interesting to see James Warrior as an actor playing Friar Tuck and coming to terms with his addiction to alcohol as yet another different story within the play. The use of live music from actor/musical director Ben Goddard also adds to the charm of the play. There is so much to watch, inventive sets, follow and enjoy and the audience were with every move last night. This is a super night out. Don’t miss it. At Birmingham Rep until Saturday night. The tour then continues on to Hull and back home to Nottingham. Clive Fuller