• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
Howerds End Review Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Howerds End Review Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Review: Howerd’s End at The Golden Goose Theatre

by Greg Stewart
October 30, 2020
Reading Time: 4 mins read

As far as comedians of the late 20th century go, Frankie Howerd earned the status of legend several times over; his career was often described as a series of comebacks.  Like Larry Grayson, Kenneth Williams, and countless others, the public adored the campness of Howerd’s routines and lapped up every double entendre going.  Mark Farrelly’s Howerd’s End, playing a short run at The Golden Goose Theatre, addresses a side of Howerd that the public didn’t see, and only properly became aware of following his death in 1992.

While camp comedians were very much in vogue, homosexuality was not.  For much of Howerd’s younger life, a relationship with another man would have meant prison, he was also deeply ashamed of his sexuality and kept it secret from the public as well as his own mother.  Also needing to be kept hidden was his long term partner, Dennis Heymer, often described as a friend, manager, chauffeur, or sometimes “just a nobody.”

Heymer outlived Howerd, and would remain living in their Somerset Home, Wavering Down, for another seventeen years, using that time to meticulously curate Howerd’s memorabilia and inviting tour parties of fans to view the house.  As the audience for Farrelly’s play, we become the last ever party to visit Wavering Down, and the first to hear the story of the couple’s life together from Heymer’s point of view.

       

It’s a ghostly apparition above the three-bar electric fire that prompts Dennis Heymer, played by playwright Mark Farrelly, to begin the story.  Joined on stage by Frankie himself, returned from the dead to support Dennis every step of the way. A wave of the hands and we’re transported back to 1959, when Dennis was a Sommelier at the Dorchester and Howerd, lunching with John Gielgud, caught his eye.

The play jumps around several key milestones in the couple’s relationship, but constantly reminds us that they lived their lives shrouded in secrecy.  Howerd’s End frequently breaks the fourth wall, just as Frankie would frequently do in real life with seemingly unscripted asides.  While this story belongs to Dennis, Frankie is undeniably at the centre of it, but the script quite cleverly draws attention to elements of Howerd’s life without feeling the need to explain them in detail; his crippling stage fright is covered in just a few lines.

You mightalso like

Strangers in Between Alex Ansdell and Matthew Mitcham Photo Peter Davies

First Look: Strangers In Between at Golden Goose Theatre

Matthew Mitcham

Interview: Matthew Mitcham on Strangers in Between

So Heymer does get to tell his story, but only to the point where we realise that one would probably not exist without the other.  Farrelly clearly knows his stuff, the writing of Howerd is superb, allowing the “oooh’s” and “titter ye not’s” to have their place, but still allowing us to see the introverted and frightened man that existed off stage.  His performance as Dennis is equally as strong, easily transitioning from a frail 80 year old to a confident 30 year old back at the Dorchester.

Simon Cartwright, who recently portrayed Bob Monkhouse on stage, has captured the voice and mannerisms of Howerd perfectly, even if some of the facial expressions and body movements don’t feel entirely natural.

One or two scenes linger on a little too long, but in general the transitions to different times and places, coupled with the frequent asides is enough to keep the audience engaged. While Frankie Howerd looms large in this production, it is Farrelly’s writing and portrayal of Dennis Heymer that makes Howerd’s End stand out as a witty and insightful piece of drama.  For all their ups and downs, the pair clearly loved each other, and Farrelly’s love of his subject matter is clear to see.

 

1 of 4
- +
Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield
Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield
Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield
Howerds End Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield
ADVERTISEMENT

1. Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

       

2. Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

3. Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Howerds End Frankie Howerd played by Simon Cartwright Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

4. Howerds End Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Howerds End Dennis Heymer played by Mark Farrelly Photo Jacky Summerfield

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Strangers in Between Alex Ansdell and Matthew Mitcham Photo Peter Davies
First Look

First Look: Strangers In Between at Golden Goose Theatre

Matthew Mitcham
Interviews

Interview: Matthew Mitcham on Strangers in Between

STRANGERS IN BETWEEN Stephen Connery Brown Matthew Mitcham Alex Ansdell Photo Nick Brittan (1)
News

Matthew Mitcham to star in Strangers in Between as Full Cast announced

Middletown
News

Italia Conti’s Second Years will present Middletown at Golden Goose Theatre

Strangers in Between
News

Adam Spreadbury-Maher will direct Strangers In Between by Tommy Murphy at Golden Goose Theatre

Mark Farrelly Jarman and Quentin Crisp
News

Mark Farrelly plays Derek Jarman and Quentin Crisp in exciting double bill at Wilton’s Music Hall

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Cast of Killing Jack

Cast Announced for Sadie Hasler’s Killing Jack at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

VANYA Andrew Scott photo credit Marc Brenner

Andrew Scott’s VANYA Adds Two Additional Performances

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly