A series of 13 programmes which tell the story of the theatre from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Written and presented by Ronald Harwood
3: Now Comes my Comedy
Why the need to laugh? The comic spirit is eternal but its theatrical origins began in ancient Greece and Rome with stock characters, human frailty and coarse humour as its ingredients.
Helped along by the special talents of Frankie Howerd in key scenes from The Haunted House by the comic Roman writer Plautus, and the modern American musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - itself a brilliant pastiche of Plautus -the programme shows that the comedy of ancient times not only survives but is extraordinarily apt and funny today.
Those taking part include:
Frankie Howerd , Peter Jones
Peter Woodthorpe , Ian Saynor Peter Gale and the Greek Art Theatre
Film editor MALCOLM DANIEL
Executive producer RICHARD CAWSTON Producer HARRY HASTINGS
Directed by KEITH CHEETHAM
* Subtitles on Ceefax page 270