Original Review:

Show Rating:

Sir Barrington is a wistful 85-year-old actor with a wild shock of white hair, who reminisces over a lifetime in the theatre over a glass of cognac. He’s similar in looks and style to The Fast Show’s befuddled barrister Rowley Birkin, but a lot more comprehensible. And the audience are given a snifter to share with the old thesp, too.

The character is well-drawn, more believable than you might expect, and the old boy can certainly hold an audience spellbound with his memories. He show’s tautly directed and fluently written – and the production values excellent, with an impressive drawing-room set for fringe theatre. Hell, they even got a game Hannah Gordon to make an on-screen cameo.

There are more chuckles than belly laughs here, usually from the well-rationed sprinkling of surreal images; and a couple of nostalgic clips from his early career are well put-together and amusing.

Sir Barrington’s career started in rep, advancing through larger theatres, low-budget British films, a terribly cheesy Seventies sitcom and a gameshow, finally winding up in an earnest piece of experimental theatre – all of which are lovingly mocked. A genuine air of pathos is introduced, too, as he talks about his personal life – a tragic element that doesn’t sit comfortably with the gentle comedy, although Fielder ensures the gear change is smooth.

My Life Is Art is as warm and cosy as a favourite pair of slippers, and Sir Barrington is an immensely agreeable old cove. An hour in his company is a delight, if not side-splitting.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett