Up Pompeii!
A 50th Anniversary Audio Revival
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Up Pompeii!
Narrated by:
David Benson, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Frazer Hines, Cleo Rocos, Jack Lane, Madeline Smith, Camille Coduri
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About this listen
Multi-award-winning David Benson leads an all-star cast in a sparkling new audio recording of the Frankie Howerd comedy classic Up Pompeii.
Welcome to ancient Rome, where the steps of the Forum are peopled by nubile slave girls and a range of outrageous characters including Lurcio’s owner, Ludicrus Sextus the senator, his wife, Ammonia, his son, Nausius, and his daughter, Erotica. Lurcio attempts to deliver his prologue and begin proceedings before he’s quickly caught up in the myriad of sexual liaisons in all quarters of his master’s house. Why does Ludicrus not leave for the Senate meeting in Rome? Why does his wife return so quickly from the country? Who will take care of the escaped slave girl, Voluptua, and will Nausius’ love poetry improve? Whilst growing chaos ensues, an increasing rumbling is heard in the distance - what could that possibly be?
©2020 Spiteful Puppet (P)2020 Spiteful PuppetListeners also enjoyed...
"Frankie Howerd" is a very very good impression and it does sound as though you are actually listening to the man himself.
The plot, as always, is more or less irrelevant. The script does feel as though it could almost be an episode of the original series. The style and jokes are very similar (some jokes are identical!) as the TV show with a "slightly" ruder edge than the series.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this. There were two Up Pompeii TV sequels after the series ended, 1 in 1975 and one in 1990 (or 91?). But frankly, this is funnier and captures the style better than the Further Up Pompeii TV sequels managed.
Bit naughty, very UNPC, nostalgic and very funny. Definitely recommend.
cheesy but very funny
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To listen to an homage, 50 years later, well, it felt like I could have been in the audience at the time. There may be references to texting and modern new-fangled technology, but I don't think the jokes have changed.
In fact, I'm pretty sure they were almost all recycled from their predecessors.
In Pompei, we are taken through a sex-crazed world of love affairs and subterfuge, of leering, lust and legs. By the Howerd-like narrator, Lurcio, who gets embroiled in his master's liaisons, and those of everyone else with too much time (and too many hormones) on their hands. Now is that their temperature rising, of that of the nearby volcano?
Loved listening to this, I felt nostalgic for a time I never lived through. I especially loved the moments of ad lib when actors forgot or missed lines and the cast has to compensate. But the whole thing is funny, from the Life of Brian-like names (Voluptua, Erotica) to the over-the-top lasciviousness and antiquated sexual attitudes.
Much fun. Not to be taken seriously. Or as historical fact.
With thanks to Nudge books for providing a sample Audible copy.
Madcap, Carry On-style nostalgia
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While the original was based around crude humour it was still limited by being a 60s/70s TV series and knew when to stop. Here there is a level of crudeness that would never have been allowed back then and unfortunately it feels totally out of place and for the most part isn't even all that funny.
David Benson, Fraser Hines and Madeline Smith are the best of the bunch and seem to be enjoying themselves, but the rest of the cast sound either wooden or just embarrassed to be there (or both).
If you're a fan of the original you might get a little bit of nostalgic enjoyment from this, but not much and I really can't recommend it.
A Pale Shadow of the Original
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