FIRM favourites Almost Legal Productions returned to Stroud with a stage version of two episodes
from the BBC’s Blackadder series.
With four versions of the period comedy to choose from, Chas Burns has adapted Bells, from the
Elizabethan period, and Goodbyeee from the First World War episodes for this latest enterprise.
The joy of the first half lay in the pin-point accuracy of the copyists, with Olly Ward, Alan
Marshall and Carter Burns outstanding as Blackadder, Sir Percy and the Queen.
The costumes were sumptuous, the casting pretty well spot-on and the pace slick – the only problem
lay, understandably, in the fact that such a faithful rendition lacked any surprises, and Graham
Hock’s Baldrick became memorable by default, for being the one character who didn’t really match the
tv originals.
The second half was a more sombre tale, once again with more faithful copying. I preferred this act,
by virtue of not being so familiar with the original, although I did feel it lacked some of the
slickness of the first half.
A good evening’s entertainment, but I did feel it was rather too much of a good thing: so complete
a reproduction of the classic comedy left me wishing such a talented ensemble would tackle something
more original than a homage, no matter how brilliant, to a tv show.
Jane Leigh
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article