Androcles and the Lion

While watching this play on a dvd with a more popular and well known, Pygmalion, Sir Billy Connolly played Androcles. Jane Freeman played his wife. While the plays are somewhat dated like taped indoors at BBC studio with limited number of cast and crew. It is worth watching to realize how brilliant Billy Connolly can be apart from his comedic history. It's nice to see Jane Freeman away from "The Last of The Summer Wine." There are well-known British cast members too like Anna Calder-Marshall, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Copley and others. It's only an hour about Christians being thrown to the lions during Caesar's time.

I saw this film posted in RadioTimes as an afternoon schools programme at a time when I thought of Billy Connolly as a talented but risqué comedian. I set my VCR to record it, because it was broadcast when I was at work. I knew the play very well as I know most of GBS. I was astonished at the acting talent of Mr Connolly; his sensitivity in his interpretation in this low budget production is outstanding. I still have the recording but now have no means of playing it. Why does Sir Billy avoid mentioning this production? His interactions with the lion, Tommy, played by an actor scampering about on all fours (although not as a comedic effect) are sympathetic and inspiring. Sir Billy may be a world class comedian, raconteur and personality but he is also a wonderful actor.