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The Churchill Theatre in Bromley plays host to a ‘cosmic’ cast for its production of Only Fools and Horses The Musical

Trigger’s broom, ‘Dave’ and ‘mange tout’: Only Fools and Horses The Musical has everything a fan of the eighties sitcom could want - and more.

Now showing at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, the astounding cast brings the nation’s favourite characters to life as they recreate some of the most famous scenes and jokes in a two-hour nostalgic marathon.

Sam Lupton as Del Boy. Picture: Trevor Leighton
Sam Lupton as Del Boy. Picture: Trevor Leighton

If show-writer John Sullivan did have plans to bring the cult comedy series back to our screens before he passed away, he would have needed to look no further than this cast who, without exception, have their depictions of the famous characters absolutely spot on.

Sam Lupton must be absolutely exhausted after the energy and 100 % accuracy he puts into playing loveable rogue Del Boy.

It sounds like a cliche, but if you close your eyes the Durham-born theatre star sounds identical to the cockney geezer. And when you open them, he has all his mannerisms down to a tea too.

When the cast took the curtain call at the end of the uplifting extravangza of laughter and song it felt like he in particular deserved more than just a standing ovation.

To be honest, the majority of the actors did.

Paul Whitehouse plays Grandad. Picture: Johan Persson
Paul Whitehouse plays Grandad. Picture: Johan Persson

Craig Berry was uncanny as Boycie and had the nasal tone of voice and characteristic laugh absolutely spot on, while Nicola Munns as Marelene could well have been lip-syncing to words said by original cast member Sue Holderness.

Lee VG had perfect comic timing as Trigger while Tom Major had the whiny voice of Rodney off pat.

Sprinkling the the show with regular bursts of the famous theme tune was inevitable and I was fully expecting this to be the only song in the show when I first sat down.

But with the help of John Sullivan’s son Jim, the musical is littered with some new and brilliantly catchy cockney tunes and some additional musical contributions from cockney icons Chas & Dave, with a special mention to Grandad’s performance of Where Have All the Cockney’s Gone?

Comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse, who wrote or co-wrote the majority of the songs in the musical as well as the show itself, is perfect in his role as put-upon Grandad, delivering just the right amount of empathy and humour to the role.

The show has played in the West End.
The show has played in the West End.

He later excels himself with a surprise transformation into Uncle Albert with the perfect delivery of one of the old man’s endless war tales.

John Sullivan may well have dusted the mothballs and creaked upon the doors of the dusty BBC wardrobe department with spot-on appearances from Trigger’s famous blue suit and Del’s khaki anorak for “that scene”.

The whole cast gave their all and, with a mixture of poignancy and fun, left the audience feeling like they’d just watched a box set compilation of all very best of the classic sitcom.

To book tickets click here.

Once the ensemble has had a well deserved rest they will back on stage for the rest of the week, finishing the run on Saturday, September 28.

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