Oh Hello! (Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh Fringe)

Charles Hawtrey worked with Will Hay, you know. And Groucho Marx. And he was directed by Alfred Hitchcock (albeit for just 15 seconds). These are career highlights for him, but of course the only thing he's really remembered for is the Carry On films.

Oh Hello! does for Charles Hawtrey what David Benson's Think No Evil of Us did for Kenneth Williams in that it brings to life a personality generally only known for their work, rather than as people. This is a revival of a play first performed by writer Dave Ainsworth many years ago, but which now has Jamie Rees playing the subject, and to greater success.

Rees has a striking resemblance to Hawtrey, and has his impersonation down to perfection. The look, the avian body language, the chuckle in his voice, the camp asides... it's like Rees is channelling the spirit of Hawtrey for the duration of the piece. There's a lot of hard work gone into studying his subject, and it pays off in spades. We're also treated to snatches of Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Jim Dale and even Barbara Windsor.

Oh Hello!: Interview with Jamie Rees

This feature was first published on June 18th, 2015 by Arts Scene in Wales

The Carry On series of films has given audiences so much joy and laughter ever since the first one in 1958, and the repertory company of stars who made up the regular cast have a special place in our hearts.

There was cackling Sid James, busty Babs Windsor and snooty Kenneth Williams… but it is the camp, bespectacled Charles Hawtrey who is the subject of this one-man show starring Jamie Rees, which has a handful of dates in Wales this summer as well as a stakeout at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The play is written by Dave Ainsworth, who first performed his own script more than a decade ago. But Jamie says that he always knew he could do a better job!