Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden: Just the Two at Six: 4 star review by John Murray

By John Murray
|
17th Aug 2017
|
★★★★

In terms of comic legends, and certainly in terms of comic writing, the name of Barry Cryer is right up there. The fact that he still has a long running comedy radio series and can demand sell out audiences for his own shows, only confirms his high status in British Comedy. His comic partner for just two Fringe shows this year is Ronnie Golden, an occasional collaborator from previous years. Whereas 82 year old Barry has built up a following with over 50 years in show business Ronnie was best known as founder of the group The Fabulous Poodles before turning to stand up with The Comic Strip.

While the style is most definitely old school the currency of comedy remains first class.

Given a huge welcome from the audience the pair appeared with inflatable Zimmer frames before launching into the comic song We Were There. They then gained wide appreciation from the (part) Scottish audience with the next ditty which they sang together Nicola (Queen Of The SNP). Next came Barry’s song I Want To Be A Mime delivered with great timing and the expected comic rhymes. Cryer has a lifetime of one-liners and his delivery has never faltered as he gave a sample before another song paying homage to his long running BBC radio Four series I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. Leaving Ronnie Golden centre stage we saw how gifted a guitarist he really is not only in picking and composition but on The Ballad Of Cell Phone Sid playing his solo behind his back and with his teeth Hendrix fashion.

Barry returned for the duet I’m Thinking About Turning Gay which was not universally applauded due to the content but the duo won back with Peace And Quiet a song that is anything but. A reprise of We Were There closed the show and while the style is most definitely old school the currency of comedy remains first class. Young writers can learn from this and mature fans were treated to a great set of songs and gags.

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The Blurb

Back for their umpteenth Edinburgh Festival, our plucky pension grabbers are up for just two nights of unrelenting fun. Expect classics, old and new, inflatable Zimmer frames, a spectacular light show created by not one but two bicycle lamps! A Scottish love song, a eulogy to Brexit and, refusing to be Trumped, they have a ditty there too. This year Barry has extended his range of skills with a spot of parrot ventriloquism and Ronnie has developed some new impressions!