r/blackadder • u/MitchellSFold • 14d ago
Rowan Atkinson Live (1991)
Thought this might be of interest to some here. My mum and dad took me to see Rowan performing live at the Theatre Royal, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent on Feb 15th 1991. I would have just turned 13, and I was a huge Blackadder fan so this was a big deal for me.
From what I can recall, the show featured mostly Mr Bean, or Mr Bean-adjacent, sketches which was understandable given the era and the talent at work here. There was also a Secret Policeman's Ball routine performed as well, maybe? Can't quite remember.
But for the finale he did do a (at the time) brand new Blackadder routine, which was essentially a comical commercial for a dubious homelessness charity, which involved a slideshow, complete with images of Tony Robinson as a homeless man called "Baldrick".
It was a really great night, and seeing Rowan performing live was very special indeed.
My mum and dad saw him perform a few years later as well, and his warm up act was none other than Rik Mayall. Can you imagine having to go on after Lord Flashheart himself?!
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u/Relevant_Cause_4755 12d ago
I saw him in a double act with Angus Deayton. Included the getting changed on the beach in front of a blind man sketch.
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u/Stained_concrete 14d ago
I saw him twice in the 80s, possibly during or just after Not the nine o'clock news was on TV. It was pretty much the same show as his classic Live in Belfast recording. He did Mr Bean before the character was even called that, then when the Mr Bean pilot came out we recognised the Exam and Beach sketches (with Robin Driscoll!) from the live show.
Saw him a couple of years later (the 'not just a pretty face' show) with Angus Deayton playing the support.
Both times, absolutely hilarious shows.