Richard E Grant, Hamer Hall 18th November 2022

For me, over the past fifty years there are some performances in films that resonate for no particular reason. Yes the acting is superior but the connection just goes beyond that and is quite inexplicable.

The female roles that immediately spring to mind are Brenda Blethyn as Cynthia Purley in Secrets and Lies, Emily Watson as Bess McNeill in Breaking the Waves and Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson in Fargo and as Mildred Hayes in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. 

From the male side of things, the three standout roles for me are Paul Newman as Luke Jackson in Cool Hand Luke, Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver and Richard E Grant as Withnail in Withnail and I.

I’ve seen all these films at least a dozen times with Taxi Driver and Withnail and I reaching borderline obsession status at over thirty viewings each.

When we heard Richard E Grant was coming to Melbourne, there was no hesitation whatever the cost. This was one of those opportunities I wouldn’t have again so it would be all about the experience.

It certainly didn’t disappoint. REG was on stage for over two hours in front of an adoring full house at Hamer Hall.

His entrance on stage was pre-empted by the opening music from Withnail and I, King Curtis’ beautiful live rendition of Whiter Shade of Pale.

This gave us Withnail ‘nuffies’  goose-bumps, and as if that wasn’t enough, out staggers REG from the darkness, wearing the disgusting overcoat he wore throughout the film.

Well…that put me in overload and I jumped from my seat and produced some form of guttural approval in my now blissful state.

Then he delivered some prose from the tearooms scene in the film. “We’ll buy this place and install a f***ing jukebox in here and liven you stiffs up a bit.”

That was it. A side of me came out that my partner Lynda had never scene before. I was like a teenage girl at a boy band concert.

The only time I ever get like that is when we travel. That feeling of seeing iconic landmarks or art that you’ve only ever seen in books or on tv.

REG’s show was in two parts. Firstly lots of stories from his life beginning in Swaziland, his desire to only ever want to be an actor and getting his first break with Withnail.

Much of this is contained in his first book With Nails which is a superb insight into the workings of Hollywood. There are some wonderful observations behind Withnail and I but the bulk of the book is a fascinating look at what it was like to work under some of Hollywood’s greatest directors.

Coppola, Scorsese and perhaps the most interesting Robert Altman are all examined in the book, warts and all.

Naturally a big part of REG’s show was his latest book A Pocketful of Happiness.

The title comes from his late wife Joan Washington who sadly passed away from cancer in 2021. In her last days she urged both REG and their daughter Olivia to strive for a pocketful of happiness each day. REG and Joan were married for 38 years.

As sad as this was, and there were moments you could hear a pin drop, REG was able to brighten the mood quickly with his anecdotes relating to this remarkable woman.

Joan was a prominent dialect coach for actors, a short and very funny Scot. REG showed a funny video excerpt from a cooking show where Joan prepared the most appalling dish imaginable which shocked the host and left REG speechless.

But for me it’s one photo. REG wrote a letter to Barbra Streisand when he was 12 offering his house and land in Swaziland for her to holiday at. It would be the beginning of a life- long obsession.

I won’t provide any details but needless to say REG eventually meets Babs when he becomes a movie star. There is a photo of REG and Joan with Babs backstage at Madison Square Garden and it’s priceless.

Whilst REG is swooning all over Babs, listening intently to every word, Joan has her arms crossed wearing a military-style jacket looking at Babs with this “I couldn’t give a rats arse who you are, get your hands off my husband or I’ll take out your knee caps.” That wonderful Scottish diplomacy.

REG describes his late wife so eloquently that it’s no surprise that he’s been able to move forward in a relatively positive state of mind. He explained how Covid and lockdown actually helped him and Joan prepare for the inevitable and get even closer as a couple.

Writing the book and nervously stepping out on stage to talk about his relationship of nearly 40 years has helped gain some closure.

After 90 minutes or so it was intermission and up on the big screen was a QR code where you could access a site to ask any questions. I couldn’t get it to work but thankfully some of the questions I would have asked were put forward.

After intermission REG walked out with an Ipad and went through each question for 45 minutes and answered them.

I wanted to ask about what substitutes for alcohol, tobacco and dope were used in Withnail given he is allergic to alcohol and smoking.

Apparently there is a no-nicotine tobacco which he used and nearly gagged on and substituting booze is quite easy. It is still extraordinary to think he was clean during his performance as Withnail.

After the show there was the obligatory book signing and I was desperate to get up the three floors from the stalls to the main entrance.

Unfortunately by the time I reached the top, the queue was spilling out onto St Kilda Rd and worming south towards the Arts centre. I’ve seen nothing like it.

We had a train to catch so we said goodbye to REG and relived all the funny and poignant memories on the Glen Waverley line.

Withnail and I isn’t for everyone and even Lynda wasn’t too sure after the first viewing. After her second, she ‘got it’. This weekend will be her third and my thirty third, in honour of the great Richard E Grant.