Rising Damp (TV Series) Stage Struck (1977) User Reviews

Cried with laughter

[willst01 · 10/10 · 29 August 2017]

I watched this on ITV3 this morning. I have seen many episodes of Rising Damp but think this is the best of them all. The studio audience are crying with laughter and frequently on the point of disrupting the proceedings; they even cheer during the closing credits, something very rare in those days. As to the show itself, firstly the plot is extremely clever with many twists and turns; for example Miss Jones thinks that she will be playing the love scenes with Philip and instead gets lumbered with Rigsby, and then the author. The pace is relentless and goes to show how slow many other sitcoms of this age were by comparison (I include Dad's Army). I marvel that Eric Chappell, who I believe is still alive aged 84, took the show's premise from a single West End play (in which three of the four main actors took part) and wrote the entire series on his own. Almost every episode still comes up fresh, compare this with shows like The Army Game, Please Sir!, On The Buses and George & Mildred, which soon ran out of ideas. Leonard Rossiter gives one of his best performances ever, moving effortlessly from pathos to broad farce - where his split second face and body movements are wonderfully fine tuned. I find the show's exploration of racial and sexual cultures still pertinent and certainly very ahead of its time. Peter Bowles perfectly captures the campness of his "luvvie" character. Don Warrington and poor Richard Beckinsale spark off each other in the usual manner. This is classic sitcom and puts paid to the idea that the BBC had the monoploy of the genre.

One of the best from the show.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 8 January 2021]

Rigsby has a new Tennant, Hilary, a flamboyant, camp and theatrical actor and writer. Hilary is penning a new play, and the star of the show, Miss Jones.

This is one of the funniest episodes of the show, it is hilarious, from start to finish. It's not often that Leonard Rossiter is upstaged or made to play second fiddle, but I would argue that he is made to here by the marvellous Peter Bowles.

Credit to Rossiter, for being so gracious to step to the side to allow Bowles to get the laughs, Hilary is arguably the best guest character, the scenes between the pair are a scream.

Slick one liners, cracking scenes, the one between Rossiter and Bowles is a scream, the ending is classic too.

One of the best, 10/10.

One of the BEST..,

[tim_itfc · 10/10 · 30 October 2021]

The writing, the acting, it's just brilliant. Rossiter as Rigsby, is just the ever hilarious landlord and Peter Bowles as Hilary, is just the same.

Faultless.

Stage Struck

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 5 April 2020]

This episode could had easily passed as something in Hancock's Half Hour.

Camp bit part actor Hilary (Peter Bowles) is staying in the house. Everyone wants a part in the play he has written.

Alan goes for the romantic lead as Miss Jones's suitor but is put off with Rigsby's sarcastic comments.

Then Rigsby gives it a go but he has to rehearse with Hilary playing the female role so he rushes out.

It is left to Hilary to rehearse with Miss Jones, a scene that includes a passionate kiss that leaves everyone in shock.

I did see the punchline coming. Bowles had good fun camping it up. The best part of the episode was the reaction of the cast in various scenes, especially with Rigsby munching on his crisps.