The satirical genius of John Antrobus and Spike Milligan

The English playwright and scriptwriter John Antrobus, pictured in 1966. Photograph: R Powell/Getty Images

I remember, as a student in 1963, going to see the play The Bed-Sitting Room, by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus (Obituary, 24 December), at the Comedy theatre.

At that time, it was normal in theatres and cinemas for the national anthem to be played at the end of performances. After The Bed-Sitting Room, as people started to leave, a rather coarse solo whistling of the national anthem was suddenly relayed through the speakers.

People were uncertain what to do. Some continued to walk out and some stood still, uncertainly, waiting for it to finish.

Then came the voice of Spike Milligan: “Anyone who’ll stand for that will stand for anything.”
Philip Allen
Kentish Town, London

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