Taking its title from The Spectator’s habit of printing a one-line apology when Bernard was too drunk to submit his regular article, Keith Waterhouse’s 1989 play, originally a vehicle for Peter O’Toole, finds the eponymous journalist locked in overnight in his favourite pub, The Coach and Horses in Soho, having fallen asleep in the loo at closing time.
An evening of hilarious reminiscences ensues, fuelled throughout by limitless vodka and cigarettes, covering such disparate topics as impotence, restaurant bills, women (he married four times), tortoises and cat racing.
As Bernard Rick Reid was shambolically entertaining throughout, aided by five talented co-actors (Marie Ridley, Leigh Cunningham, Gary Cleave, Wendy Robson and Graham Robertson) who took on a multiplicity of cameo roles as friends, wives, nurses, policemen and jockeys.
The opening night audience was warmly appreciative, though the second act will need to tighten up as the run progresses.
Ed Howson
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