Radio Times

Review by:

Jane Anderson

William Brown is confused. Some literary expert has been lecturing class 3A about a writer called Shakespeare and a cove called Bacon who stole all his work and sometimes went by the name of Ham. Or Eggs.

Martin Jarvis delivers a live performance of one of Richmal Crompton’s finest outings for William, which ends in him delivering his own version of the “To be or not to be” soliloquy from Hamlet. So what if the words are not in the right order or, indeed, actual words?

It’s William’s moment in the spotlight and one of the funniest things on the radio this fortnight

About this programme

Martin Jarvis performs in the first of two Richmal Crompton comic classics, recorded live at the Theatre Royal, Winchester in May, as part of the city's Best of British Festival. Schoolboy William Brown has a befuddled notion that Shakespeare plays were written by a man called Ham and that the great bard was a plagiarist. He then comically acts the part of Hamlet in a school drama to uproarious laughter.

Cast and crew

Cast

Performer

Martin Jarvis

Crew

Director

Rosalind Ayres

Writer

Richmal Crompton

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