My Laurel & Hardy Sketch: Piano Movers

This is a scene I wrote for our last youth theatre production in Summer 2015. I’d already built the fake piano for our Copacabana show and wondered how we could make use of it again. Hmmm…

I became a Laurel and Hardy fan due to seeing their short films on British kids’ TV back in the 70s & early 80s. We happened to be on holiday in the Lake District when planning the ‘Summer Spectacular’ show and spent a happy hour or two at the Laurel & Hardy Museum at Ulverston, Cumbria, the town where Stan was born. And, inspired by their Oscar-winning comedy short “The Music Box”, where the hapless duo try to deliver a crated piano, I started jotting down some ideas. I also used some elements from “Way Out West” which is perhaps one of their most famous pictures and one I happened to have on DVD.

Once we got back into rehearsals it was a case of seeing if any of the lads in the cast could capture the characters of Stan and Ollie. Luckily, Will and Frank rose to the occasion wonderfully, both having seen some of the old black and white classics despite being thoroughly 21st century kids. Our heroes are hassled by assistant stage manager Alice.

The piano also has a bit of a starring role, but needs the deft touch of Rosie, Sophie and Rhianna to add the final twist.

It also features, for the first time ever in recorded form, my singing voice (although the microphone wasn’t quite faded up in time to capture the first line). Sorry if it spoils it for you! Click here for the link to the video 🙂

Frank & Will as Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel