23rd Sept 2019
Kicking off this year's season with Matthew Hope's adaptation of Blackadder Goes Forth, the team at the Royalty have chosen a play that packs a punch in more ways than one. This satirical look at the first world war rattles through a season of Blackadder in just under two hours, presenting key scenes in a series of vignettes. It has elements of just about every type of comedy, from slapstick and bawdy farce, through to high end intellectual wit. It is at once very funny, and heartbreakingly dark.
The roles are demanding for the cast - quickfire repartee and tongue twisting wordplay, combined with physical humour mean that delivery and timing have to be spot on for it to work. And of course, these are well known and much loved characters for the British public; portraying them on successfully stage is a whole other challenge. Thee is always the danger of mimicking the TV characters rather than bringing them to life in their own way. Would the cast and directors be up to such a challenge? There was quite a bit of speculation in the foyer as to whether it would be achieved.
First impressions as we entered the auditorium were encouraging - a selection of war time songs played us in, and the curtain raised to reveal the set - the typical trench dugout was perfect.
And the cast did rise to the challenge. Jacob Hughes as Blackadder, had just the right level of crippling disdain for his fellow soldiers, who were - with exception of Capt. Darling, and Lord Flasheart - completely oblivious to both his disdain and his cutting sarcasm. Alex Parkin-Goodchild was suitably ingenuous as George. His scene as Georgina, describing his date with General Melchett is a classic and almost stole the show from Private Baldrick, however Lee Wilkins recitation of "War's a funny thing" and "German Guns" may just have edged the balance back in his favour and his treatment at the hands (and foot) of Capt. Blackadder elicited sympathetic gasps from the audience.
James Errington explodes onto the stage as Lord Flasheart and successfully lowers the tone with his rampant libido and huge personality.
John Appleton and Andrew Barella both gave excellent supporting performances as General Melchett and Capt Darling. The General typically bombastic upper class military and completely insane and Darling, obsequious, self-serving and underhand and yet still in the final scenes we felt sympathy for him, ironically double crossed by his eccentric superior officer. Of all the roles Capt Darling is the most understated - the humour of this character is much more sublte, conveyed through body language and facial expressions, and could easily be lost among the mayhem of rest of the crew.
Newcomer to the Royalty, Michael Alexander was able to try out his German accent as Baron von Richthoven - arch enemy of Lord Flasheart and as Brigadier Smith the undercover spy. I actually liked him best as the Brigadier - quietly funny as he spied on the hospital inmates.
I did feel for the two female characters - Emma Thomson as Bob and Olivia Bowern as Nurse Mary - as they did seem to be there purely to provide the eye candy in a very "blokey" scenario, which is a shame because other Blackadder females have been stronger characters.
Lorna Breeze's direction has produced a play worthy of the fourth incarnation of Edmund Blackadder. The cast were clearly enjoying the experience on stage (we did note Baldrick's near corpsing in the second act, he held it together well!). Lots of laughter from the audience throughout and we were suitably subdued in the final scenes which were emotional, and very well executed.
The general consensus after the curtain came down was that the team had indeed risen to the challenge. A great start to the new season at Royalty Theatre.
Blackadder goes forth until Saturday 28th September. Book a ticket.
Denise Sparrowhawk
No comments:
Post a Comment