David Benson's show marking Kenneth Williams' centenary year is more resurrection than mimicry, offering a poignant look at the Carry On star's life. The performance, which tours to Circle and Star theatre, covers the full spectrum of what made Williams so funny, beloved, and insufferable.
The first act focuses on Benson's own childhood, including his winning entry in a 1975 Jackanory story competition read by Williams. Benson recounts his adolescent awakening as an exponent of funny voices, deploying note-perfect impressions of Frankie Howerd, Sergeant Bilko, and the cast of Dad's Army.
The second act features scenes from Williams' life, including a Q&A riff on western civilisation, a bleak dialogue with his elderly mother, and a dinner with friends. These moments highlight Williams' thin-skinned, self-absorbed nature, but also his fear of intimacy and feelings of worthlessness.
Benson's vocal and facial contortions are extraordinary, capturing Williams decades after his death. The show is an arresting snapshot of an extraordinary man and the era he lived through.
