Blackadder Goes Forth

It was very timely that the Pranksters chose to put on this production this week in November, the week of Armistice Day. This was the last of the Blackadder series, and was so well written, containing all the references to class, empire, duty, privilege, that were prevalent at that time, the early 20th Century, seen from the perspective of the late 1980s. Despite the fact that there were fears it might trivialise the war and the sacrifices that generation made, it won the British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Series in 1989. I have always felt that the final episode was the most affecting anti-war thing there could ever be. I wondered if the Pranksters could make me feel as moved. They did. They pulled it off.

The back room of the Star Inn is a very atmospheric space, all black, with a raised stage that was here separated into sections representing the trench or General Melchett’s HQ, Blackadder’s cell, or General Haig’s office. There were plenty of sandbags; a good deal of camouflage netting; a couple of metal ammunition crates; an ancient telephone or two; tables and of course lots of chairs as there was always a lot of sitting around as they awaited the dreaded final order. An old radio and some tin mugs were present too, and a Union Jack. A simple ‘wall’ represented the walls of the trench, equipped with shelf containing the odd cooking pot etc and some notices. This could be turned around to display a fine landscape painting on the wall of General Melchett’s luxurious office in his HQ, 35 comfortable miles from the front.    

The first half of the production contained a short excerpt from the episode ‘Captain Cook’, then the whole of  2 further episodes: ‘Corporal Punishment’ and ‘Major Star’. Highlights here were of course the shooting of Melchett’s pet carrier pigeon, Speckled Jim, and Blackadder’s subsequent trial, where he was defended by, of all people, the hopeless and hapless the Hon George Sir Anthony Colthurst St Barleigh, ex Trinity College Cambridge, naturally. There was a very rowdy, and jolly, firing squad in evidence, before Blackadder’s eventual reprieve arrived in the nick of time.

George came into his own more in the excerpt from Major Star. Blackadder had been tasked with forming a concert party, which may transfer to London. Baldrick does a Charlie Chaplin impression. George is the gorgeous, delectable Georgina, with whom General Melchett promptly falls in love and becomes engaged to. 

Jenny Swift had put together an excellent cast, with Sam Gould bearing an uncanny resemblance, certainly in facial expression, tone of voice, to Rowan Atkinson. Similarly Alex Healy as George echoed Hugh Laurie so well. Lexy Gold made Baldrick her own great character, and was very endearing, and of course very stupid! Steve Simmonds was a great General Melchett and Matt Gibbons a suitably pathetic Captain Darling. The rest of the team supported very well.

Costumes were excellent, I was fascinated by the puttees they all wore on their legs, by General Melchett’s scarlet uniform, and by one of the firing squad’s superb moustache.

After the interval we had the whole, I believe, of the final episode ‘Goodbyee’, where Blackadder feverishly attempts to escape the final push, and George looks forward to giving the Hun a good bashing. Poor Baldrick just tries to think of more cunning plans. All to no avail, of course, they go over the top to a hail of machine gun fire.

Well done, Pranksters, for giving us this chance to relive these comedy moments, and to relive that chilling last few seconds.

So moving.

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