Blackadder II

It was pleasing to see that there was a full house on this Friday evening – clearly fans of this 80’s TV show are alive and well in Whitstable tonight. I’m sure that we were all intrigued to see how this 1980’s irreverent TV sitcom would translate to the stage. We were not going to be disappointed because from the first entrance of our ‘hero’ we were back ‘home’ in the Elizabethan mayhem we all remembered so well. Taking three TV episodes of Blackadder associated with the court of Queen Elizabeth 1st, our evening’s entertainment consisted of Act 1 – Chains; Act 2 – Head; and Act 3 – Bells. 

Kevin Ridley our ‘anti-hero’ Edmund Blackadder - costumed in a handsome black doublet and hose – strode into the Throne Room to pay homage to his ‘Queenie’. It was a little uncanny how the occasional wide eye, winces and slow-turning glances were enough to establish that we were in a safe pair of hands. Featuring in all the ‘Acts’ Kevin maintained the sense of status and comedic frustrations of the character throughout the evening. Sian Leigh Webb – Queenie was ‘as she described’ her character - delightfully silly. Bekki Howell – Nursie maintained her un-flustered and ‘knowing’ big personality throughout the evening. Baldrick – Joe Morgan played Blackadder’s ‘sidekick’ well in tune with the browbeaten original of the TV series. A downtrodden survivor!

True to the original, sex reared its head fairly regularly, but none more so than in Act 3 when we meet Kate – played excellently by Dani Selmes (dressed as a ‘boy’). Blackadder has guilt-ridden stirrings for the ‘boy’. The shenanigans around this situation were hilarious – and lead to the entrance of Flashheart – played by Jeff Barker. My-oh-my what an entrance! It was mighty, pantomimic and gloriously funny - and strangely handsome! What a hoot! In fact it was so close to the original Rik Mayall, who has sadly passed, it was a little emotional. A ‘stop you in your tracks’ moment! Absolutely amazing – loud, irreverent and fabulous. 

I do hope that everyone who appeared in the show enjoyed it as much as we, the audience, because although you may not be recalled by name here, you are the sinew that makes a production whole and you all did wonderfully well. So – sincere congratulation to Norman Holness, Director - your team have done you proud. Tim Shorts' sets were attractive and reflected the ‘scene’ requirements (and on budget apparently!). Sound designed by Roger Davis and operated by Kevin Egleton was excellent; the lighting worked seamlessly. Costumes were fab-u-lous - particular congratulations to seamstress Linda McCann. The process of scene changes relying on ‘blacking out' one or other of the sides can sometimes be a little problematic for the audience's retention of continuity. Particularly when players stay on stage throughout. So, congratulations to the players stillness in blackout and to the lighting, design and construction team Roger Davis and Kevin Egleton - because it worked as well and scene changes were seamless and slick.

Congratulations to all involved – including your lovely team in the box office, auditorium and bar. 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.