The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2008 REVIEW

THE LIFE AND RHYMES OF IAN DURY

World Premiere

Reviewed by Jacqueline Sharp

Playback Theatre

at The Zoo

3 to 25 August 2008 at 13.25 (70 mins)

£7.00 (£5.00)

Directed by Jeff Merrifield

Technical Director:  Des Oleary

 
I was curious about this production. As there isn’t much around, nowadays, keeping alive the life and works of Ian Dury, it had a lot to live up to!

To date, radio stations blast out the occasional hit from Ian Dury and The Blockheads. This is a testimony to his life works, but after his death in March 2000, something more than just radio play had to work to keep alive the real Ian Dury.

The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury, by Jeff Merrifield did just that, lived up to being a world premiere, with world class cutting edge drama.  The audience were blown away by this larger than life character.  Just like his song: lots of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll stories and lots of swearing too.    

Yeah there was swearing, a lot of it, the F Word, but that didn’t prevent the audience being mesmerised by it all. There were lots of laughs, claps, smiles and cheers for Jud Charlton as Ian Dury and Josh Darcy in role as Fred “Spider” Rowe. 

Jeff’ pitched The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury over a span of twenty years, concentrating on the years 1980 to 2000, split into three parts of his life,until his death from cancer in 2000. 

You get your money's worth: a lot jam-packed into seventy minutes.  There are many memorable and hysterically laughable scenes for you to think about afterwards. You will enjoy hearing about the relationships he had with those closest to him. There are many highs and lows, as he seemed to be a difficult character to get along with.  His tour manager Spider, was always at the brunt of his temper!  One particular argument made the two part company for a while. Their reunion made for some very emotional scenes.

My favourite scene was a mock interview with Ian Dury and Janet Street-Porter.   Josh in character, has the audience in hysterics as he dons a red wig and mocks her accent, to perfection.

Another funny scene sees Jud in role as Dury, talking about his first sexual encounter, in the rain, at Upminster Park.  He quotes “I’ve heard that I’m the first raspberry sex symbol”.  The audience burst out laughing, I looked around and couldn’t help wonder if they were they thinking “how about that for Sex and drugs and Rock “ n” Roll”.

A masterpiece of a script, that gives insight into the private life of Ian Dury, the unseen, back biting reality of his private life. 

Jeff's  research reached out to those who knew Dury well.  His friends described him as “a man who comes from adversity”, capable of “construct and destroy”, a “knowledgeable bloke, with “imagination in spades”.  He was also described as a private man who bought every Elvis and Gene Vincent record. 

Some parts were touching!  They describe Dury’s disability, caused by childhood polio which left him crippled.  Despite his disability, he still kept his sense of humour, as shown in a scene where Spider tells how Dury “had a parcel of a replacement iron leg" delivered on tour.   

Spider, (Josh), talks a lot of his times with Dury, sharing double bill in many scenes, it was great that both characters share equal time on stage, as they both spent so much of their time together. I was pleased to hear from Jeff Merrifield that the real Fred “Spider” Rowe’s visited the opening show and commented to Josh Darcy, in role as Spider, “Don’t muck it up you runt”.

Fans will be pleased to know that there are plenty of Ian Dury and The Blockheads songs to sing along with.  Jud Charlton fills the room with great Dury classics, Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick,  What a Waste, and more epic songs of the punk era, with banter from classic songs from New Boots and Panties album!

The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury  is the work of a genius (Jeff Merrifield) celebrating the life of another genius.  The world will never forget Ian Dury as his memory lives on in his songs and this highly recommended production.