@ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 28 May 2016 (and touring)
Francie and Josie were once big Scottish TV personalities. Played by the late Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy, the act was essentially two Glesga simpletons who began in 1958 in drape jackets and brothel creepers, became dayglo Mods in the 60s and kept up their act into old age. Their farewell tour was in 1996.
Although their comedy involved a working class and very Glasgow banter, for people of a certain age all over Scotland, the North of England and Ireland there’s real affection for F&J and their brand of seaside innuendo and malaprops.
So here they are back together for the first time (since they died) and played by Jonny Mac and Liam Dolan. ‘I’ve got water on the brain,’ says one. ‘I’ll give you a tap on the heid,’ says the other. These are the jokes, folks.
There’s a five piece band and guest singers in the form of Christy Mac who belts out odd choices from Doris Day, Donna Summer and Shirley Bassey. During disco hit Hot Stuff an old dear in the row in front is air pumping. Clapping along to almost every song is mandatory. The Jersey Notes trio is a Four Seasons tribute. Um, weren’t there four Seasons? The boys’ rendition of Oh, What A Night has everyone rocking out of their seats.
Francie and Josie’s rickety routines are well kent by many in the audience but jokes about suicide or a curry house manager called Ahmed Pakora might have passed muster in the Ardrossan Gaiety in 1963, but, guys, the world has moved on. It’s like Alternative Comedy or Chic Murray or Billy Connolly or Frankie Boyle never happened. And who the heck did your sound check?
If the show had been classier, smarter and done with more chutzpah, then yes, it might well have kept the spirit of Francie and Josie alive. But as it is, let them Rest in Peace.