ONLY WHEN I LAUGH. (1979-1972) WRITTEN BY ERIC CHAPPELL.
DIRECTED BY VERNON LAWRENCE AND GRAEME MUIR.
THEME MUSIC COMPOSED BY KEN JONES.
STARRING JAMES BOLAM, PETER BOWLES, CHRISTOPHER STRAULI, RICHARD WILSON AND DERRICK BRANCHE.
REVIEW BY SANDRA HARRIS. ©
I absolutely loved every second of this bitingly witty hospital comedy, filmed from the point of view of the patients, rather than that of the staff. It comprises three patients-slash-perpetual-hypochondriacs, one womanising doctor-surgeon and an Indian orderly all the way from Delhi.
The title of the show, which has a terrific theme tune, is the answer to the medical question, does it hurt? The patients squabble endlessly- and hilariously- with each other and sometimes the doctor and orderly as well, with the great questions of the day being debated over a barium enema and two pints of fresh blood, please, milkman.
James Bolam plays Roy Figgis, the sort of ‘shop steward’ patient who elects himself the mouthpiece for the ward and won’t stand for any slights to his working-class origins, which would normally come from Archie Glover (Peter Bowles), a slightly down-on-his-luck toff in a posh silk dressing-gown, who prides himself on having the charm and chat to woo any female who happens to be passing by the ward.
Norman Binns, played by Christopher Strauli, is the ‘baby’ of the trio, who arrives into hospital clutching his best friend, a teddy bear. He’s not effeminate or a softie, though, and is dying to get rid of his frumpy, plain-ass-fiancee, Deirdre, who’s being foisted on him by his domineering mother. Until she turns up one afternoon dressed to kill… Deirdre, that is, lol, not Mumsie. Oh, how fickle is man!
Richard ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE Wilson plays the learned Dr. Thorpe, who has his own eye on Deirdre too, but thankfully his dragon of a wife, Muffin, won’t let him near anyone who even resembles an attractive woman. Which is just as well, as Dr. Thorpe is an unstoppable love machine when he gets going, love poetry, love songs, the works! Which comes first for him every time, women or doctoring? Have a wild guess…
Gupte, played by Derrick Branche, is the funny Indian orderly who’s perpetually run off his feet, and whose involvement in his patients’ scams or schemes invariably leads him into trouble. It was the style of the time to make fun of the funny little Indian man or Chinese man in these sitcoms (Remember the brilliant IT AIN’T HALF HOT, MUM?), but I don’t let it ruin my enjoyment of the shows. I just say, okay, that was how they did it back then, it doesn’t matter anymore because we know differently- better- now, now let’s just get back to watching the show!
The actor Derrick Branche went to school in India with Freddie Mercury, back when the lead singer of Queen was known as Faroukh Bulsara. Branche was even a member of Freddie’s first ever band, the Hectics, and when they played at the school concert, the girls completely lost their composure and went mad for them…!
Branche is probably fed up to the back teeth with having his name coupled with Freddie’s like that all the time, and he’d probably just like to be known for the things he’s achieved off his own bat, so, if it’s any consolation to him, I thought he was fantastic here as Gupte!
My favourite episodes are as follows: when all the lads, including Gupte and Dr. Thorpe, try to read what Norman has written about them in his diary; when the patients and Gupte try to muscle in when a documentary is being made about the hospital and the daily doings of Dr. Thorpe; and also when a scruffy old drunken man, played by Frank Middlemass, turns out to be the posh, boarding-school-educated Archie Glover’s long-lost father. Anyone for another chapter of DOMBEY & SON…?
This show succeeds because it’s got heart, soul, a fair bit of bitchin’ and sharp social commentary (usual coming direct from the mouth of Figgis!) and a lot of love for the material coming from the actors. They’re having great craic together and it shows in the sparkling performances.
I especially love the last episode; all three patients have finally been given Le Boot from the hospital, but they decide to meet up and have a reunion on the very evening of the day they all get discharged! And where do they hold this splendid reunion? Why, in the very restaurant where the adulterous Dr. Thorpe is having a naughty tryst with a married lady from his local choir…! You simply wouldn’t credit the shenanigans…
sandrafirstruleoffilmclubharris 