Take my mother-in-law, please – Jon’s tribute to Les Dawson
It’s not quite ‘Freddie Starr ate my hamster’ - but in the world of weird headlines ‘Les Dawson’s ghost ripped my trousers’ is up there. The splash headline was on the front page of an edition of Daily Star Sunday courtesy of comedian/impressionist Jon Culshaw, who is touring a tribute show to the late, legendary funny man Dawson.
The story explains how the Dead Ringers star says he feels “possessed” by the late comedian while impersonating him in his show.
On stage he wears a bracelet that once belonged to Dawson given to him by the comic’s widow Tracy – and during one performance it flew off his wrist.
“I was wearing the big bracelet, which, during one gesticulation, flew off across the stage,”
Culshaw told the newspaper. “I bent down to pick it up and ripped my trousers. Tracy said ‘I bet that’s Les. That’ll be his way of having fun’.”
Culshaw is touring the show Les Dawson: Flying High after premiering it at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
“It’s rather lovely,” he said of taking up the role.
"You feel almost possessed. It affects your body language and mood. You take on his style, motion and stance. Then, you start to talk to everybody as Les.
"You do little gurns and people just smile. The joyfulness in the room shoots up. It’s lovely.”
Dawson died in 1993 at the age of 62.
“What a wonderful writer he was,” said Jon, “and what a passion for words. I want to remind people of that, and of the affection and warmth of his comedy.”
The show has already enjoyed sold-out success and garnered rave reviews.
Flying High finds Dawson writing his autobiography while on Concorde to a rare Manhattan gig. It was written by Tim Whitnall and the director Bob Golding, re-assembling after their smash hit Morecambe (about Eric).
Dawson is just one of scores of characters Culshaw brings to life in the show, including Dawson and Roy Barraclough’s gossipy housewives Cissie and Ada, plus Alan Whicker, Clement Attlee, Charles Dickens and the Opportunity Knocks host Hughie Green, who gave Dawson his break on the show.
Jon Culshaw: Flying High is at Scarborough Spa on Friday December 9 at 7.30pm. Tickets: 01723 376774 and at https:// www.scarboroughspa.co.uk