Details

In this hilarious and moving satire, a beleaguered comedy troupe writer who, obliged by law to submit his latest script for government approval, has to go toe-to-toe with a newly appointed hard-nosed government censor. As he diligently attempts to rework his play, incorporating the censor's multitudinous and unconventional edits, the most unlikely partnership starts to flourish and the men become engaged in a 'conspiracy of two', crafting the funniest play they can imagine, whilst the spectre of the outside world threatens to destroy everything.

Cast/Performers

Martin Freeman (The Writer), Roger Lloyd-Pack (The Censor)

Creatives/Company

Author: Richard Harris (adapted from an original play by Koki Mitani)
Producer: Bill Kenwright (in association with PARCO company limited Tokyo)
Director: Bob Tomson
Design: Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mark Henderson
Sound: Brian Spence

The Last Laugh

The Last Laugh (Play) production archive for QTIX code T01422191633. Details of all The Last Laugh archived productions can be found under the QTIX code: S1411749478

Archive Listings

26 Feb 07 to 3 Mar 07	Theatre Royal Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Performance Details => Venue archive
19 Feb 07 to 24 Feb 07	Richmond Theatre Outer London, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive
13 Feb 07 to 17 Feb 07	Milton Keynes Theatre Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Performance Details => Venue archive
5 Feb 07 to 10 Feb 07	Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Performance Details => Venue archive
30 Jan 07 to 3 Feb 07	Theatre Royal Windsor Windsor, Berkshire Performance Details => Venue archive

Reviews

UK Theatre Web: 06Feb07:
I am contributing this article from Japan. As I am interested in the future of this play in UK, I would like to keep watching carefully English theater fansf response to this play. Mr. Kouki Mitani originally wrote this funny playfs script. The original Kouki Mitani's script is based upon the story of Mr. Sakae Kikutani , the scenarist. Who wrote many comedy scripts for the famous comedy actor Mr. Kenichi Enomoto i.e.gChaplin, Charliehin Japan. When Mr. Kenichi Enomoto was confered a decoration in 1950, he said that This decoration was not given to me but to the Mr. Sakae Kikutanifs great scenarios. During the World War II, in Japan the government suppressed scriptwriters harshly for fear lest the comedies would spread of the lazy atmosphere. Mr. Sakae Kikutani fought this harsh censorship with incredible patience and managed the theatrical company in those gPassion@periodh. But he was conscripted for military service and eventually become fallen soldier in China during the World War II. http://www.plib.net.pref.aomori.jp/top/museum/sakka/SAKKA50_PRO/‹e’J‰hPRO.HTML So for me, The Last Laugh is not a comedy but very special tragicomedy. This was put on the play in Russia successfully. I thought that Russian people experienced the same severe censorship in the past. I guess that is one of the reasons why they could understand this tragicomedy correctly. Thank you reading the foreignerfs strange English to the end. And hope that English fans would enjoy this funny play to their heart's content.

User Reviews

USER (06Feb07): I am contributing this article from Japan. As I am interested in the future of this play in UK, I would like to keep watching carefully English theater fansf response to this play. Mr. Kouki Mitani originally wrote this funny playfs script. The original Kouki Mitani's script is based upon the story of Mr. Sakae Kikutani , the scenarist. Who wrote many comedy scripts for the famous comedy actor Mr. Kenichi Enomoto i.e.gChaplin, Charliehin Japan. When Mr. Kenichi Enomoto was confered a decoration in 1950, he said that This decoration was not given to me but to the Mr. Sakae Kikutanifs great scenarios. During the World War II, in Japan the government suppressed scriptwriters harshly for fear lest the comedies would spread of the lazy atmosphere. Mr. Sakae Kikutani fought this harsh censorship with incredible patience and managed the theatrical company in those gPassion@periodh. But he was conscripted for military service and eventually become fallen soldier in China during the World War II. http://www.plib.net.pref.aomori.jp/top/museum/sakka/SAKKA50_PRO/‹e’J‰hPRO.HTML So for me, The Last Laugh is not a comedy but very special tragicomedy. This was put on the play in Russia successfully. I thought that Russian people experienced the same severe censorship in the past. I guess that is one of the reasons why they could understand this tragicomedy correctly. Thank you reading the foreignerfs strange English to the end. And hope that English fans would enjoy this funny play to their heart's content.

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CORONAVIRUS: All venues in the UK were shut down on March 16, 2020, and the restrictions were finally lifted on July 19, 2021. It is important to mention that the UK Theatre Web archive listings (iUKTDb) from March 2020 to July 2021 might not be accurate due to the lack of information regarding rescheduled and cancelled shows.