For sixteen years, Only Fools and Horses had the nation hooked to its Christmas special, with millions of us tuning in to see what brothers Del Boy and Rodney were up to next. For much of the 1980s and into the early 1990s, the sitcom was a much-loved part of most people’s viewing habits on Christmas day. So perhaps it’s no surprise this limited run at the Eventim Apollo opened a week before Christmas—the perfect present for many a fan.
I was lucky enough to attend its gala performance and mingle with fellow fans and reminisce about what many have described as the greatest sitcom of all time. Among the mostly male audience were the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Arlene Philips and even the great man himself, David Jason, who got a standing ovation as he entered the auditorium to take his seat.
So, we know John Sullivan created a superb TV classic, but what about the stage show, written by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan? Have they managed to capture the essence of the sitcom and bring characters like Del Boy, Rodney, Boycie, Marlene, Trigger and all the greats to life?
Well, it certainly comes close. The simplicity of the book is what makes this show a success. There’s little reinventing of the wheel, with all the famous one-liners and iconic scenes peppered throughout the production—with all of them getting the appropriate cheers, claps and acknowledgment they deserve. This is truly a night of nostalgia for those of us of a certain age who remember and cherish the old times when families came together on Christmas night to enjoy, laugh and at times cry at the marvel of this show’s Christmas special.
Whether it’s Del Boy dating or Boycie and Marlene’s journey to conceive, the storylines here are all familiar and played to perfection by a cast that clearly knows the programme and respects these much-loved household names.
As well as writing the book and lyrics, Whitehouse also plays Grandad—a central character in the early days of the TV show. Whitehouse is loveable, funny and just how I’d remembered him. Whitehouse and Sullivan clearly understand the family and all its quirks, and this enables Whitehouse to really get into his character and recreate a legend.
But the true legends are, without a doubt, Del Boy and Rodney, played by Sam Lupton and Tom Major respectively. Lupton’s take on Del is uncanny—at times it is as if David Jason has jumped onto the stage and stepped into the iconic sheepskin coat and taken over. I’ve rarely seen such a fantastic impersonation of someone who is loved and adored for all his weird and unique eccentricities. Often impersonations are frowned upon, but in this case, the audience is here to relive those iconic scenes, and that’s exactly what is delivered.
Major is also without fault, albeit a little shorter and younger than Nicholas Lyndhurst, but I really am splitting hairs here to find something mildly scathing to write. He has mastered the character of Rodney and dished it up in all its glory.
The same can be said about the entire cast, who unlike the show also had a musical score to deliver. There are a few memorable moments here, but again they are only thanks to the TV show’s theme tune, which the entire cast perform to an audience who are only too happy to sing along. It was the perfect uplifting start to this trip down memory lane.
I suppose I should also mention the sprinkle of celebrity stardust appearing in this 3-week run. Vinnie Jones makes his London stage debut as Danny Driscoll, the Trotter’;s arch enemy who is out for revenge. This storyline (which I don’t think features anywhere in the TV show) is the weakest part of the show and delivers no real tension or drama. At times, Jones is almost a distraction, popping up sporadically and thankfully only briefly to deliver a few very well acted lines. If you’re a Vinnie Jones fan more than an Only Fools and Horses fan, then don’t waste your money going to this show, because his appearance is brief.
I can think of many movies that have been adapted for the stage—some with more success than others—but there are few TV shows that have made the crossover. Perhaps that’s because it’s tougher to create the same energy of a series into a 90-minute show, or perhaps it’s because few TV shows have the pulling power to fill a theatre night after night with fans. Only Fools and Horse has neither of those problems. The material is oozing out of this show, and the fans are gasping for more. This musical filled the Theatre Royal in the West End for more than 1,000 performances before it closed in April 2023, and now it’s back, the demand greater than ever.
After over 20 years since it came off air, settling down to this epic show was just like popping on an old, well-worn and very comfy pair of slippers.
Reviewer: Thomas Magill