Considering I neither went to Oxford or Cambridge or in fact any university at all (now you come to mention it Facebook) it just goes to show the impact that the ‘Beyond The Fringe’ comedy revue from the early 1960s had on the overall picture of that decade. The story of how four Oxbridge students managed to introduce the world of ‘satire’ into the every day lives outside their elite bubble and for it to still be remembered over fifty years later is worth exploring.
Obviously the subsequent success of each of the four individually and in other partnerships certainly had a part to play in that of course. How it all happened goes a little something like this…
The artistic director of the Edinburgh Fringe in 1960, Robert Ponsonby was keen to bring together the best revue shows from the ‘Footlights Dramatic Club’ of Cambridge and the revue of Oxford under one show. His assistant John Bassett selected Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore, a band mate of his from their jazz ensemble. Dudley brought in Alan Bennett and Miller recommended Peter Cook who was already writing for Kenneth Williams for the West End stage.
Fair to say the show limped along for a while before finding a home at the Fortune Theatre in London, where with a bit of a reshuffle from a professional production team and a very favourable review from celebrated critic Kenneth Tynan it soon became a ‘must see’ show, which later transferred to Broadway.
It was full of irreverent scripts mainly from Cook, which took delight in poking fun at the establishment and Politicians of the day. The considerable musical skills of Dudley Moore were also a part of the show.
Itself inspired in many ways by the Goon Shows, it in turn influenced the next generation of graduates coming through, with the team behind Monty Python being the prime example.
The TV show ‘That Was The Week That Was’ presented by David Frost and the magazine ‘Private Eye’ were very much in the same vein, with ‘The Eye’ being periodically bailed out and propped up financially by Peter Cook.
Cook also opened The Establishment’ club in Greek Street, Soho in 1961. It was a comedy club and performers included the legendary Lenny Bruce.
From 1964, Cook and Moore teamed up to become ‘Pete and Dud’ in their own TV show ‘Not Only But Also’. In grubby macs and flat caps Cook portrayed E.L. Wisty and Moore is his stooge Herbert. Their ‘Dagenham Dialogues’ – Moore was originally from Dagenham – threw up such conversations as Wisty being rung up by Greta Garbo for a romantic interlude.
It also produced many fondly remembered sketches like ‘One Leg Too Few’ carried over from their ‘Fringe’ days in which Dudley plays a one legged Mr Spiggott who auditions for the role of Tarzan.
‘I couldn’t help but notice’ says Cook’ but you are a one legged man. I have nothing against your right leg Mr Spiggott. The trouble is neither have you…’
They went on to have a pop chart hit with ‘Goodbye’ in 1965.
They also starred in the 1967 comedy ‘Bedazzled’ with Cook playing the devil with Moore as Stanley Moon. The soundtrack to the film was written by the pair and performed by the Dudley Moore trio.
The couple remerged in 1976 as Derek and Clive, this time committing, shall we say, a more ‘adult’ humour to a vinyl recording. They were the result of bootleg tapes of Cook and Moore relieving boredom backstage during a run of a show on Broadway. Chris Blackwell, head of Island records sent copies to his friends and after hearing of the clamour for them, Cook decided to release them commercially.
As for the ‘other two’ in the Fringe, Jonathan Miller was specialising in Neurology as the ‘Beyond’ team took off. Subsequently he went on to direct TV programmes such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in 1966 and shows at The National Theatre including ‘The Merchant of Venice ‘ starring Sir Laurence Olivier, He also ran The Old Vic. Opera was another love of Miller’s and he also directed at Glyndebourne and the English National Opera. No slouch then.
Alan Bennett is known for his writing across all formats, book, TV, film and theatre. His TV work has included the ‘Talking Heads’ series for the BBC. Films include ‘The Madness of King George’ and the screenplay for ‘Prick Up Your Ears’, the story of Joe Orton. ‘History Boys’ at the National was a huge success and that in turn became a film that launched many a career. James Corden et al.
Sadly the relationship between Cook and Moore was coming to an end in the late 1970s and Moore moved to Hollywood. He, somewhat surprisingly, went on to gain huge success with the films such as ’10’ opposite Bo Derek in 1979 and ‘Arthur’ in 1981.
Sadly his last years, were full of ill health. A brain disorder had in effect immobilised him, by the time of his death in 2002 aged 66.
Perhaps, the most naturally talented of all the four, it has been said that Peter Cook lost his way as the 70s progressed, his increasing drink problem at the heart of it.
He continued to perform, but many of his new TV ideas failed to catch on, though he still had plenty of admirers.
He himself died in 1995 aged just 57.
It is said that Dudley Moore, grief stricken at the news, would ring Cook’s home number just to hear his voice on the answerphone machine. Sad that.
‘Now is the time to say goodbye….’
The Mumper of SE5
