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Product Description
Product Description
Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in January 1994, this is a collection of five ten-minute interviews with Peter Cook's comic creation, Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling, who reminisces about his life and career as statesman, scholar and tycoon. They formed Cook's final radio series.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
It's hard to add anything to the review below because it sums up the series so eloquently. Delightfully unscripted (on the whole), this is possibly the most enjoyable work from Mr Morris. He does indeed owe a debt to comedic visionaries like Peter Cook, and here Mr Cook is given the time and the space to wax at length about total absurdities (P.O.W in Japan, The explanation of Christ and the subsequent Japanese interest, assassinations from restaurant trollies, and spending time secreted in a prisoner's trousers). Peter Cook shines throughout, stamping his mark as one of the 20th centuries great humourists. I'm sure Mr Morris learnt more from this than he contributed. Even so, his dry and surreal wit is irrisistible bait to Mr Cook. Outstanding. And, given Peter Cook's death soon afterwards, something to cherish.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
Peter Cook's final flash of brilliance - as the deeply preposterous Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling in conversation with the lightly menacing Christopher Morris - is as moving as it is hilarious. Cook's performance is a masterpiece of comic acting, with displays of wit, timing and surreal whimsy to put Steve Coogan and co. firmly in their place. Chris Morris owes an obvious debt to his interviewee, but his bizarre yet logical questions and steely satire provide the perfect foil.
Despite the presence of eels, tiny Christs and Japanese hover-donkeys, the prevailing atmosphere is sombre, so it is hardly surprising that the five ten-minute programmes went out quietly on Radio 3. Nowhere else will you hear anyone say "the next time we want to interview you you'll probably be dead" and actually mean it.
84 of 91 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've lent this tape to several people and not a single one realised that Cook improvised the whole thing. That is a mark of genius. Cook's character, Sir Arthur Streeb-Greeblng (not to be confused with his nemesis, Sir Arthur Greeb-Streebling), is a comic gold mine, and having aged a lot since his appearances on Not Only ... But Also, has become something not entirely dissimilar to the Fast Show's Rowley Birkin, but far funnier.
It's truly wonderful that that the careers of Peter Cook and Chris Morris, in many ways Cook's obvious successor, overlapped enough for us to hear them work together. Morris has a frustrating habit of trying too hard to be contraversial (the awful Brass Eye special springs to mind), but he can be a truly brilliant surrealist when he's not trying to upset people.
Morris doesn't say much on "Why Bother", but does a great job of forcing Cook into improvising. It's obvious at times that Cook has a routine in mind, but Morris refuses to let him take over, instead forcing the conversation into truly surreal directions. When you think of some of the pretentious "artists" who appeared on early editions of "Whose Line Is It Anyway", it's hard to imagine that they could cope with being asked for info regarding their plan to revive the infant Christ and exhibit him around the world.
Although there is a sense of Cook squirming to come up with material,he never drops out of character or (crucially) stops being funny. VERY funny.
The highlight for me must be Sir Arthur's story about bee-keeping, which makes me laugh out loud every single time I hear it. Similarly, the tales of Sir Arthur's father's attempts to make a man of him are priceless, and his attempts to convince Morris to let have a haircut during the interview. Actually, 99% of the tape could actually be listed as highlights, as there are very few dead spots.
As with most of Cook's work, what lifts Why Bother above lesser forms of surreal comedy (including Python), is the way that Cook manages to remain completely deadpan throughout. The fact that he never once lets the mask slip is astounding.
For anyone who wants to hear a comic mastermind at work, battling
against a mastermind of the future, this tape is essential.
Oh, and if you're wondering why they stuck a picture of E.L. Wisty on the cover, rather than Sir Arthur, don't ask me!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Why Bother is right
This does not even rate 1 star as a lifelong Peter Cook fan I brought this CD; I have never heard of Chris Morris and wish I still had not Why Bother? Read more
Published 3 days ago by Baronsmirnoff
as good as you hope it might be
two of the greatest comedians of all time coming together, at the end of one's career and at the beginning of the other. it's almost a passing of the torch. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Biffer Spice
Don't bother buying it!
I am a great Peter Cook fan, but this realy is diappointing. It is not just different, but just not funny. I had to throw mine away as it spoiled my Pete and Dud collection. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Peter J. Mccurdy
Well, obviously I can't ask the question that has never been asked
This is a great piece of audio work. The conversations seem half scripted half improvised but always funny. Read more
Published on 15 April 2009 by Mr. Wc Shacklock
Don't bother
I'm sorry, but I hated it! I've heard and read snippets of Sir Arthur's interviews with Dudley Moore over the years and in particular I found the "Frog a la Peche" routine... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2009 by Crookedmouth
Inconceivably hilarious
This is by far the funniest cd I have ever had the pleasure to hear , and certainly the best thing either Morris or Cooke have ever done. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2006 by C. Mcsloy
Less than the sum of its parts
Peter Cook and Chris Morris are two of my favorite performers. So I was delighted at the prospect of their collaboration. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2003
Definately DO bother.
This is a sublime piece of improvisation from two of the greatest talents in modern comedy.
Published on 25 April 2003
A Truly Remarkable Masterpiece
Character-based comdey wich is subtle, rich, facinating, contemporary, effortless and masturfully executed. Read more
Published on 27 April 2002
Peter Cook: Genius
The description by Cook's character Arthur Streeb-Greeblng of taking part in the L.A riots and of being even-handed, he killed as many whites as blacks told with a straight, upper... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2001 by "jaguar00"
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