BIT OF WHAT YOU FRANCIE
JOHNNY Mac and Liam Dolan weren’t even born when Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy first staged their hugely successful comedy act Francie and Josie in 1958.
But the 30-somethings are now on their third theatre tour capturing and repackaging the comedy magic of Rikki and Jack.
Liam, who plays Francie, said: “Both Jack and Rikki knew about our tribute to them before they passed away and thankfully gave us their full blessing.
“Since then, Jack’s widow Mary Lee has been to see the show and loved it. She said, ‘It’s as close to the originals as you’re ever going to get.’
“Jack’s grandchildren have been to see the show and also loved it.”
It was, in fact, Mary who inspired the boys to bring two of Scotland’s best-loved entertainers back to life.
Their original tribute was performed in 1998, when Liam and Johnny staged a charity performance at The Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock to raise funds to send their youth theatre to the Edinburgh Festival.
Johnny wrote to Rikki asking if it was OK to use the characters and got the legend’s blessing.
Jack passed away in 2001, aged 85, while Rikki died in 2004, aged 79, after battling Alzheimer’s.
In 2014, Johnny and Liam returned to Francie and Josie during a cabaret show.
Johnny, who plays Josie, said: “We did a 10-minute section and Mary, who was a performer herself, came along to see it.
“She came to meet us afterwards and said, ‘Boys that was great – you should be touring this.’”
In 2015, Johnny and Liam went on the road with a full show. It sold out – as did a second tour. Liam said: “We’ve been blessed with the audiences’ reactions.
“They absolutely love it. There have been comments such as, ‘They are just like watching the real thing.’”
Rikki, together with Stanley Baxter and Stan Mars, came up with the idea of the characters during The Five Past Eight Show at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow.
With Jack as Francie and Rikki as Josie, Scottish Television gave them their own show in 1962. Another series followed in 1963 and a third and final one in 1965.
Rikki went on to have even bigger success in Scotch & Wry, especially as the Rev I.M. Jolly – another character Johnny is bringing back during this new tour.
There was a Francie and Josie revival in 1988 and 1989 – before Rikki and Jack performed their famous partnership for the last time in 1996 video The Farewell Performance.
Johnny said: “We want to keep the memory of Francie and Josie alive for as long as we can and, of course, introduce them to a younger generation.”
While not many of us say “Hullawrrer China!” any more, the duo became so popular back in the day because most people knew someone like them.
Liam said: “Everyone in Scotland – and especially Glasgow and the west – almost certainly knew a Francie or a Josie, so the audience could relate to them.”
Liam’s dad had a Francie and Josie LP, which he loved playing growing up.
Johnny added: “My gran lived with us and we had a video of them that I used to watch and do impressions of the routines to make her laugh.
“I also saw them at the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988.”
There was no big debate as to who played who.
Johnny said: “I think my mum said that I can look glaikit, so I should be Josie!”
To create the shows, the boys spend hours listing to recordings, watching videos and DVDs and rehearsing.
Johnny said: “We have tried to be true not only to Francie and Josie but to Jack and Rikki as they are the real comedy legends.
“We spend a lot of the time studying their movements and mannerisms, which are essential to our show.”
As well as Johnny doing Rev I.M. Jolly, the third tour includes Francie and Josie songs and routines they haven’t performed before.
But Liam added: “There are of course some classics that we know the audience just love and they have to be included.” ● Francie and Josie: A tribute to Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy is on at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, tonight; Beacon Theatre, Greenock, tomorrow; Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, March 11; and Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, March 18 and 19.
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