Blackadder II The Elizabethan Years

Bolton Little Theatre perform the award winning tv series Blackadder II The Elizabethan Years taken from three episodes entitled The Bell, Head and Potato. Ranked 2nd in the best sitcom of all time topped by Only Fools and Horses. Penned by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Blackadder still has a large following, backed up by the full house here. Set in the 16th Century in the court of Queen Elizabeth where everyone is trying to avoid getting their heads cut off at her whim.

The set had to be functional and accommodate the quick changing short scenes to keep the flow, the main set being Lord Blackadder’s office and Queen Elizabeth’s chamber. With double doors Centre Stage and a large coat of arms above the doors. Stage Left was Queen Elizabeth’s Court with colours of gold, red, green and white, with movable chair. Entrances were also Stage Left and Stage Right having a wooden arched door into Blackadder’s room Stage Right and one Downstage Right. Elizabethan leaded-look window on the back wall and wooden Elizabethan wall panelling to give the symbol of steeliness and comfort. A table was then cleverly used for various scenes. Black curtains were used with added furniture for other scenes as well as a galley of a boat brought on Stage Right.  Set Design Helen Livesey, Keya Edge and Richard Leigh. Set Builders Helen Livesey, Jeff Lunt, Simon Mott, Peter Beckett. Lorna O’Keefe, Sarah Kameeree, Andrew Gradwell, Steve Butler & Richard Leigh. Lighting and Sound all added to the production but the auditorium lights did keep coming on during the performance, which was slightly distracting. Sound Design John Lyon and Ben Laytham, Sound Operation Catherine Cropper. Lighting Design Chloe Spencer, Peter Gower, John Lyon and Ashley Foster. Lighting Operation Nigel Cropper.

Wardrobe must have had fun with the various costumes and wigs used. Wardrobe Janet Hardman, Susan Taylor, Helen Livesey, Keya Edge and Judith Leigh.

Ben Latham directs the cast of seventeen bringing this popular well-loved comedy to the stage with all the set characters we know. With a few of the cast taking on more than one role we are treated to twenty-four of the Blackadder quirky cast. With some larger-than-life characters and good use of the stage, the actors also helped move the scenery about too.

The cast all taking on the well-known characters were Henry Bolton playing Herald and Street Child who gets shot with an arrow. Carl Wheatley played the other Herald.  Jason Taylor played Earl Farrow and Innkeeper. Susan Simons played wise woman. Andrea Peters played Young Crone and Tavern Maid. Chris Dunn played Lord Melchett.

Ashley Hambrook played Doctor Leech and as a very boastful Sir Walter Raleigh. Ashley Foster played a rather deranged minstrel with eyes and voice to match. Hilarious. Jamie Roberts took on three parts - the repulsive Ploppy, Father and the legless Captain Rum who had various aids to get him around and a splendid beard. Catherine Henderson gave us Mrs Ploppy (no relation to Ploppy) who cooked for the condemneds’ last meal. - just so long as it was sausages and she came complete with a sausage necklace. Great character.

Paul Roberts played the very energetic & oversexed, thrusting Lord Flashheart. Woof! Ruth Syddall takes on the roles of Kate (‘Bob’) and Lady Farrow.  Kate disguised as a man was hilarious and the little film sequence with her flirting with Blackadder really worked. Laura Roberts gave us Nursie aka Bernard. Always saying what she shouldn’t it’s a wonder she didn’t get beheaded. Delivered with an innocent look on her face.

Julie Hall played Queenie and she got it spot on with the childishness and the sense you never knew when she would turn on you was definitely evident. Working well with Laura Roberts.  Richard Leigh played Baldrick the dogsbody, we first see him plastered to a door and used as target practice, played just right he brought the comedy out and the scene with filling the bottles with bodily fluid will stay with me for a while. Let’s not even mention him as a bridesmaid - so funny.

Paul Humphreys plays the title role of Blackadder the anti-hero trying to keep an eye on his servant Baldrick and make sure he pleases the Queen. His sarcastic one-liners were delivered well and his disdain of all was obvious. In order for his character to work he has to have the cast to feed off and he had that but what a find in Len Rice as Lord Percy. Pompous and so stupid - great fall guy for Paul to play off - loved the ruff scene. Len brought a great energy to scenes as well as absurdity. Well played.

“A cunning plan” by BLT to stage the show - thank you from my guest Angela and I for the invite and hospitality.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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