Synopsis
Programme
Impressions/Performances
Bingley Little Theatre ended their 2009/2010 season by treating Bingley theatre-goers to an evening of nostalgia with four classic stories from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's ever popular TV sitcom, Dad's Army. All the favourite characters and catch-phrases were there - "Don't Panic" Jonesy, "Stupid Boy" Pike, "Could I be excused" Godfrey, "Do you really think that's wise" Wilson, and of course "I wondered how long it would take you to work that one out" Captain Mainwaring himself.
The first story, "The Deadly Attachment," sees Captain Mainwaring's band of eager misfits detailed to guard a group of captured German submariners overnight until a military escort arrives to collect them. It turns out to be a trying time, especially when the arrogant captain begins compiling a list of names to be held to account when the Germans win the war. It is one of the most famous episodes of the entire nine year run and includes certainly the best remembered piece of dialogue in the classic exchange - [U Boat Captain - to Pike] "Your name vill also go on the list. Vhat is it?" [Mainwaring] "Don't tell him Pike" [Captain - scribbling] "Pike!"
In the second story, "Mums Army," Captain Mainwaring's plan to involve the women of the town in the platoon becomes rather too personal when he forms too close an attachment with Mrs. Gray, a refugee from London who has brought her mother down to Walmington-on-Sea to escape the bombing. After setting tongues wagging throughout the town, it ends "Breif Encounter" fashion at the railway station as the lady catches a train back to London leaving an unusually emotional Mainwaring standing on the platform.
The third story, "The Godiva Affair," sees the platoon practising a Morris dance for a fund-raising carnival to raise the money to build a Spitfire. Warden Hodges has a competing plan, for a young lady dressed in "fleshings" (a skin-like suit) to ride through the town as Lady Godiva. In a sub-story, Corporal Jones asks Captain Mainwaring to put in a good word for him with the brassy Mrs. Fox, who has begun sharing her affections between Jones and Mr. Gordon, the town clerk. Mrs. Fox, of course, misinterprets Mainwaring's intentions to his great embarassment, especially when word gets back to his wife. Things get even more complicated when Mrs. Fox is given the part of Lady Godiva, especially when Mrs. Mainwaring decides she should have the part.
The last story, "The Floral Dance," was originally filmed as a short and broadcast as part of "Christmas Night with the Stars" on, not surprisingly, Christmas night 1970, and repeated on stage in the 1975 Royal Variety Performance. The original has since been lost by the BBC. It sees the platoon rehearsing "The Cornish Floral Dance" alongside the Wardens, verger, vicar and some of the local ladies.
A great set (representing the church hall with Mainwaring's seperate but connected office) and great acting from a large on-form cast brought all the old characters back to life. Julian Freeman's Mainwaring had all the bluster and pomposity of the original, David Poole's Wilson was as dry and mellow as his own counterpart, and David Helliwell's Fraser especially was uncannily accurate. Subtle it was not, one of the highlights of the evening was a grenade down Jonesy's trousers, but every last ounce of humour was wrung out the script in an evening of hilarious entertainment. And when we remembered what was coming from recalling the TV episode, the anticipation only served to make it so even funnier.
Verdict
A very funny re-creation of the favourite TV sitcom.
Don Gillan - www.stagebeauty.net