Blackadder Goes Forth

Sometimes adaptations of popular tv comedies transfer well to the stage, sometimes they do not. The audience knows the jokes, they have lived with the characters, their foibles and the actors playing the parts for many years. Everyone will have their favourite scenes. The dilemma for directors is to decide in their own minds what fresh input can they bring to the tale or are they merely content to try to replicate the original as closely as possible. Paul Armitt made a creditable attempt. There was much to admire in this production. The attention to detail and genuine regard for the piece came across. Not the least in the stage settings which were meticulous Chris Kerry, Clive Nixon and Paul Armitt had created fitting backdrops to the action. The costumes too were of the period. Yet why was George wearing a uniform with no badges of rank and why was Field Marshal Haig content to wear a captain's uniform? Little things mean a lot.

There are so many amusing one-liners for Blackadder to utter. Yet they can become tedious after a while. This effect is magnified when 3 episodes are strung together. Dominic Swarbrick it must be said lacked the incisiveness and punch of Rowan Atkinson. Yet he had verve in abundance and produced a memorable interpretation. Steve Dobson as George Colthurst was engaging, successfully conveying the essential beguiling silliness of this upper class twit . Nigel Parson’s Baldrick was close to the original in delivery and movement. Paul Heyworth had chosen to try to create the tone and physical manner of Stephen Fry. His General Melchett was commanding, full of little touches that added to the original interpretation of this character, happy to command from the safe distance of 35 miles behind the lines. Harry Mcgaghey as Captain Darling impressed. His character has much to suffer at the hands of his superior and endure the indignities thrown at him by Blackadder. Paul Armitt as the Brigadier was amusing while Diana Jackon as the spy was confident in her portrayal.

Yet I was expecting to leave silently at the end full of anger and confusion about the rationale humanity has concocted for inflicting death and terrible injuries on people they have never met. Indeed I was quite prepared for it by the message in the programme. The final seconds of the tv version are rightly revered as being amongst the most moving and heartbreaking in all of televisual history. That they emanated from a daft comedy makes this so much more remarkable. However this production’s conclusion, which should have ended the moment the actors started to go over the top, was prolonged. There was no need for all that followed which actually forced the audience to reluctantly offer polite applause when they did not really want to. I do acknowledge that it was done with the utmost respect.

Maybe we are all so horrified at anything to do with war and the senseless slaughter of innocents that we are daily observing in Ukraine that the humour in this play is difficult to fully appreciate or convey.

PRM.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.