BlackAdder Goes Forth

 

Bringing a successful TV episode to the live stage is always prone to disappointment. Comparisons with the original are always in the mind of the beholder which is unfair but invariable. The technical aspects are more difficult; Scene changes are seamless when the Director can stop the action and reset for the next “shot”. Carlton dealt with the problem very well and the result was an enjoyable evening’s entertainment greatly enjoyed by the audience.

Director Nick Fawdry had the unenviable task of impressing an audience who come with set ideas of how the different characters behave. We know the differing traits each character brings to the plot and expect that individually they will remain the same. The comparison between a famous “household name” and a member of our cast will often not be taken into account. Baldrick by any other name is still Baldrick. However, the entire team of actors worked well together to produce a fine end result under the Directors guiding hand.

In a play such as this Costume and Set are all important. I’m afraid the idea for the trench scenes did not quite come off. Too clean? but is it possible to promote the idea of mud and dirt adequately on the stage. Utilising different levels to allow for office scenes worked and also allowed for movement from one area to another. The lighting used definitely helped in this respect.

Wardrobe in the main got the costumes right… I did not think that Driver Parkhurst was quite correct judging from photographs I have seen of the period and Baldrick somehow wasn’t quite Baldrick, in dress anyway.  General Melchett’s uniform was splendid; he looked in every way the way a General would have looked particularly at that period of time and all in all costuming was fine.

What of the actors? In these circumstances it is always tempting to simply mimic the original which h fine from one perspective but dangerous from another. Trying to match the original makes the watcher compare the two strongly especially if the character in question is a favourite one. Equally if you take too literal an approach you risk the comment why is he/she playing it that way, it’s nothing like the original: two stools?  I’m pleased to say the cast walked the tightrope very well and nobody fell off.

Mike Sanders gave a strong showing as Black Adder and although not perhaps as heavily sarcastic and caustic as he might have been, he found the right balance and his expressions were sometimes more revealing than the actual words. Marc Smith as Lieutenant George was excellently dense and his drag sequence with its suitable facial expressions was much liked by the audience. Graham Breckon made a lovely, if that could be said of Baldrick, job of this much beloved character. Not easy bearing in mind that the original player made such an impact in the TV series.

Gareth Crawshaw was splendid as General Melchett, Stephen Fry to a tee which in this case was absolutely right. He looked like a General in bearing and Dress. And was well supported by Alexander Breatnach as Captain Darling although perhaps a little more “nastiness” when trying to do Blackadder down might have been appropriate.

Laura Smith was Driver Parkhurst and looked and sounded good in the role.and Robert Thunder lived up his name as the epitome of Lord Flasheart; always outrageous in manner and dress. Nurse Mary (Fiona Williams), was she really the German spy? played her part well especially when trying to seduce Black Adder.

Further contribution to the main characters came from Keith Hill as Lieutenant Von Gerhardt and Brigadier Smith, Mark Prescott as Baron von Richtoven and Steve Youster as Field Marshal Haig. 

I wondered how the closing scent might be done. The lighting used was most effective with the silhouettes, and it proved to be a fine ending. The decision not to have the cast take a bow was just right anything else might have been “over the top”

A fine cast all round although sometimes it was not easy to catch every word spoken. I don’t think a sound system is installed but I it would be a considerable improvement if future investment could include this technology

No show is complete without a strong backstage team which is evident in all Carlton Productions.  Well done to all concerned.

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