RYAN FAQs
A selection of your frequently asked questions :-
There was a rumour that Ryan was short-listed for the part of Compo on ‘Last of the Summer Wine'. Was that true?
This has appeared on Wikipedia and the simple answer to that question is that it was not true. I'm not entirely sure where that rumour derived from but the nearest connection was the professional relationship that Ryan had with Bill Owen.
In late Autumn 1976, Ryan was invited to take one of the two lead roles in the play ‘The Sunshine Boys' at the New Theatre in Cardiff. The other was to be played by Bill Owen.
The play had been turned into an Oscar-winning film and it revolved around two retired comedians who had enjoyed a very successful career as a Double Act - but the reality was that they hated each other & hadn't spoken in years! It charted the endeavours of a son-in-law Agent who attempts to get them reunited for one last time - ‘attempt' being the operative word.
The ‘run' at the New was a successful one, both artists creating a double draw - the only unfamiliar part was that they both played the roles in an American accent! Although Bill Owen had starred in the first series of ‘Last of the Summer Wine', it still would be a few years before the series a regular feature for Sunday night viewing. But it should not be forgotten that Bill Owen was a huge Matinee Idol in many films in the 1940's & 50's. Ryan's own career was also reaching its peak - it was only a couple of years previously that the partnership of Ryan & Ronnie had broken up due to Ronnie's ill-health. The play's theme had an ironic feel in view of R. & R.'s breakup (see question below).
The great personal memory for me of the play was of a dinner-party! Ryan, Bill Owen and myself had been invited to dinner at the home of Wyn Calvin. Wyn, that great Welsh personality, had always made a great welcome at his home to any other visiting artists - and this was extended to ‘The Sunshine Boys'. Over the years, I've always had a great fascination with Music Hall, Comedy and the like. For three hours, I was ‘entertained' with wonderful theatrical stories (from Theatrical Landladies to rundown Theatrical digs, from Chorus Line to Top Star stories!) by Bill, Wyn & Ryan. I don't believe I have ever laughed so continuously as I did that evening.
Happy Memories!
In the recent stage presentation of the play "Ryan & Ronnie", the pair were represented as having a volatile relationship which led to their split. Is this true ?
As someone who worked alongside both of them during the final months of their partnership, it did disappoint me in how the two were represented in that play. Of course, in any relationship you will have your ‘ups & downs', but with the strains that were placed on them they managed to maintain a very civilised & healthy partnership.
What they had created in an extremely short space of time (for comedy duos, that is) was a hugely successful comedy vehicle and one they could take great pride in. (We'll deal with the successes of Ryan & Ronnie in a separate article).
As usual with any docu-drama, the term ‘artistic licence' is applied & the idea is to seek the ‘darker side' of their relationship - interestingly, attempted when they are not around to defend themselves! Call me old-fashioned, but I have always looked on the entertainment business as a form of escapism to take your mind off your daily toil. I enjoy the artiste for what they attempt to achieve on stage / TV / Film. What lurks behind that façade is of little interest to me & should be kept out of the equation. As it happens, if you equate the pleasure that Ryan & Ronnie achieved against whatever character deficiencies they had, then the ratio is somewhere around 95% to 5%. So rather than dredging through the 5% let's just enjoy the happy memories of what they achieved on stage.
On Ronnie's own admission, he was Ryan's biggest fan and the role of ‘straight man' to the comic partner is a difficult but a very important role (imagine a Morecambe without a Wise). Ronnie was unable to keep up with the rigours of nightly performing and it came as a big shock to Ryan when Ronnie announced at the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly (a 2,500 seater cabaret venue) that he had been ordered by a specialist to stop immediately. If the double act was to finish then the D.D. was a fitting exit. Ronnie always kept his connections with the entertainment business but the illness was never far away. As a result, he was a much misunderstood person but his contribution to the R & R vehicle was immense.
His last major public performance was in ‘TWIN TOWNS' in 1997 & he sadly took his own life later that year.
If you have any questions on Ryan, please send them to Mike Evans -
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January 1977. I was working for the Welsh Theatre Company touring a
Welsh language panto written by Ronnie, who also acted in it with
Gari and Bryn Williams. Benny Litchfield was also a good friend who
published several of my songs. I would like to buy Ryan at the
Rank, The Many Faces and the Welsh CD but not the Cymanfa Ganu CD.
How much for this package? Many thanks, Dilwyn. Dilwyn Roberts