When David Pugh first approached Hamish McColl and Sean Foley to write a play about Morecambe and Wise they said no. The task of writing a script that even compared to those that thirty years ago were being performed by two of Britain's funniest and most fondly remembered comedians seemed impossible. In the light of this it's probably for the best that they didn't try to write one.

You see, The Play What I Wrote isn't about Morecambe and Wise - it's about Morecambe and Wise impersonators who are themselves very much like Eric and Ernie. Kim Wall, tired of being the butt of Clive Hayward's jokes, makes a bid for success by breaking away from his partner in order to become a serious playwright, whilst Clive does his best to derail Kim's progress in order to preserve their partnership. The whole thing is a magnificently crafted parody of The Morecambe and Wise Show as we remember it with songs, slapstick and special guests intermingled with Clive and Kim playing off each other just as Eric and Ernie did. Underpinning all which, however, there is more than just homage to two great men; it is also a loving study both of the men themselves, their relationship and careers.

If there is a criticism to be made it is that the first act is noticeably weaker than the second though this in itself is not damning; given that all of the big set pieces are all to be found in the second act including a rendition of 'Bring Me Sunshine' it should hardly be surprising. Besides, it isn't that the first act isn't funny (it really is), it's just that the material in the second act is so much better that I can't help but wonder why the first act couldn't have been improved.

The most important thing to say is that if you go to see this show expecting to see Eric and Ernie you may well be disappointed as this simply isn't what the writers have tried to achieve. What they have tried to do and have succeeded in doing is creating a show that evokes the feel of Eric and Ernie and pays them a heartfelt tribute and what more fitting tribute could there be than to write a play that could be described to be as Clive and Kim described the men themselves - 'very funny'.

Jamie Frew 15/02/05