The Play What I Wrote, Wyndham's Theatre, London

Morecambe and Wise tribute brings sunshine and star quality to stage

Internal links

Eddie Braben, Morecambe and Wise scriptwriter: interview

Kenneth Branagh's tribute to the comic genius of Morecambe and Wise, The Play What I Wrote, brought a touch of sunshine to the West End of London last night.

Rowan Atkinson, Frank Skinner, Bruce Forsyth, Ronnie Corbett, Barry Humphries and Ben Elton were in the audience for the opening night at the Wyndham's Theatre. On stage, Ralph Fiennes was revealed as the star guest who customarily becomes the butt of the duo's banter.

The producers were keen to emphasise that The Play What I Wrote, which stars the comedians Hamish McColl and Sean Foley (aka The Right Size, winners of the Laurence Olivier Award), is not an imitation of the antics of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, although aspects of their show feature prominently.

"When we first approached The Right Size, they said, 'This is the Holy Grail, there is no way we can touch it'," explained the associate producer Dafydd Rogers last night.

The premise of the show is that the comedians have been asked to perform a play about Morecambe and Wise but will only do so if McColl is allowed to put on his own play, hence the tribute to Wise's famous "play what I wrote" catchphrase.

Celebrity guests will star in about eight shows throughout the run, and are said to have been lining up to take part, with Richard E Grant, Sue Johnstone and Richard Wilson among those to have already appeared in the previews.

Among those rumoured to have had talks or signed up for future shows are Sean Connery, Naomi Campbell, Jude Law, Victoria Beckham, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, John Sessions and Rufus Sewell.

As well as being directed by the Oscar-winning Branagh, the performance has benefited from the consultancy of Gary Morecambe, the comedian's son, and the two men's widows.

Mr Morecambe said recently: "The funny thing is, by the end of the play you forget it's not Eric and Ernie on stage."

Mr Rogers added: "It is a tribute in the very real sense of the word to these icons of British comedy. We are all massive fans and it has been done with love and affection."

Wise died two years ago, aged 73, while Morecambe – with whom he had been in partnership since the age of 16 – died at 58 in 1984.

While the script has been written with the help of Eddie Braben, 80, who assisted Morecambe and Wise on their phenomenally popular television show, it has been given a deliberately contemporary feel.

To avoid drawing comparisons, famous guests from the original show – such as Glenda Jackson – have not been included. But, of course, there was only one possible way to round off last night's show – with a re-enactment of the duo's famous song and dance routine, "Bring Me Sunshine".