Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (play)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{short description|2018 play based on the TV sitcom}}
{{Infobox play|name=Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em|image=|caption=|writer=Guy Unsworth|characters=Frank Spencer
Betty Spencer
Father O'Hara
Barbara Fisher
Mr Worthington
Mr Luscombe
Leslie Robin
Constable|genre=Comedy, Disaster|setting=|subject=|premiere=18 February 2018|place=Wyvern Theatre, Swindon|orig_lang=English|web=|based_on=Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
TV series by Raymond Allen}}
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is a play by Guy Unsworth based on the BBC TV sitcom of the same name by Raymond Allen.
Background
The idea for a stage production of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em began while Joe Pasquale was appearing in Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre in London's West End in June 2013 (with Guy Unsworth as associate director) in which an incident with a faulty electric fan collapsing prompted the idea for Pasquale to play Frank Spencer (originally played in the TV series by Michael Crawford). When approached to create the stage version, Raymond Allen (the original TV series writer) gave his blessing for the adaptation as well as the casting of Pasquale (already being a fan of his stand-up shows).
Production history
The play premiered at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon on 21 February 2018 before embarking on a UK tour. The production was written and directed by Guy Unsworth, designed by Simon Higlett, scenery built by Splinter Scenery and starred Joe Pasquale as Frank Spencer, Sarah Earnshaw as Betty Spencer and Susie Blake as Mrs Fisher.{{Cite web|author=BWW News Desk|title=Further Dates Added for 2018 UK Tour of SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Further-Dates-Added-for-2018-UK-Tour-of-SOME-MOTHERS-DO-AVE-EM-20171101|access-date=2021-07-03|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}} The playtext was published on 19 July 2018 by Samuel French, Inc.{{Cite web|title=Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em|url=https://www.concordtheatricals.co.uk/s/64209/some-mothers-do-ave-em|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Concord Theatricals|language=en-uk}}
Due to the success of the 2018 tour, the production began another tour with Pasquale, Earnshaw and Blake reprising their roles, however was forced to stop due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour recommenced in March 2022, with James Paterson joining as Father O'Hara.{{Cite web|first=Ellen|last= Fleming|date=2019-07-02|title=Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em {{!}} 2020 UK Tour {{!}} Dates {{!}} Venues|url=http://www.stagereview.co.uk/theatre-news/joe-pasquale-stars-in-new-some-mothers-do-ave-em-uk-tour/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Stage Review|language=en-GB}}
A new production opened at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester directed by Joseph O'Malley which ran from 8 July to 17 August 2024.
Cast and characters
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Character ! colspan="3" |UK tour !Cirencester |
| 2018
!2020* !2022 !2024 |
|---|
| Frank Spencer
| colspan="3" align="center" |Joe Pasquale |Sam Denia |
| Betty Spencer
| colspan="3" align="center" |Sarah Earnshaw |Laura Mead |
| Mrs Fisher
| colspan="3" align="center" |Susie Blake |Julia Teal |
| Mr Worthing/Mr Luscombe
| colspan="3" align="center" |Moray Treadwell |Steven Wren |
| Father O'Hara
| colspan="2" align="center" |David Shaw-Parker | align="center" |James Paterson |Derek Elroy |
| Constable James Desmond
| align="center" |Chris Kiely | colspan="2" align="center" |Ben Watson |Georgia Leila Stroller |
*2020 tour cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic, which continued as the 2022 tour.
Reception
The play received critical acclaim earning four and five stars across many reviews.{{Cite web|title=Review: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (Richmond Theatre) {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/some-mothers-do-ave-em-richmond-joe-pasquale_45968.html|access-date=2021-07-03|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2018-03-08|title=Review of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em at Richmond Theatre|url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/reviews/comedy/review-of-mothers-do-ave-em-at-richmond-theatre/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=LondonTheatre1|language=en-GB}}