Blackadder Goes Forth

This play was a series of sketches from the fourth series of the BBC TV series of the same name.  Whenever a play is based upon a popular TV series it is always a fine line to tread as to whether the actors should mimic the TV characters or impose their own stamp of individuality upon the script.  In this fine example there were glimpses of both facets, although the well-known and well-loved characters shone through predominately.

Playing the title role of Edmund Blackadder was James Gardner. His acting personified the dry and often sarcastic dialogue of the role to perfection.  His hapless sidekick, Baldrick, was superbly acted by Robin Jowett, and there were almost pantomimish groans from the audience as he unapologetically explained the ingredients of his ‘trench coffee’.  Lieutenant George (Graeme Lindup) threw himself into all army officer trench life with the enthusiasm of a public school cricket match.  Away from the front line was Capt. Darling (Pete Bayly) keeping his superior officer Gen. Melchett’s (Peter Cooke) eccentric behaviour in check. Both actors gave sterling performances in their respective roles.

Catherine Nixon added ‘spice’ to the ranks as ‘Bob’ Parkhurst, with everyone but Blackadder accepting her as a masculine ‘Tommy’.  A touch of ‘slapstick’ ensued with the entrance of Royal Flying Corp’s Wing Commander Flashheart (Richard Gardner) - The mannerisms and acting of Richard was very reminiscent of the late Rik Mayall with his iconic ‘Woof Woof’ exclamations.  The German contingent of Von Gerhardt and Von Richtoven were played by Will Green and Kevin Jones, respectively whilst the cameo role of Field Marshall Haig was performed by Ian Graves.

This play was a very accurate interpretation of a very funny TV series.  Continuity between the short sketches was maintained very slickly by judicial lighting of various areas of the stage upon the fixed set. Like the finale of the TV series, the final ‘freeze frame’ tableau of the characters going ‘over the top’ was very poignant in this centenary year of the start of the ‘Great War’, accompanied, as it was, by the words of Robert Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’  - a fitting and mournful contrast with the humour that had gone before.
Well done Queens Hall Theatre Club.

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