Always a pleasure to see Tinkers Farm and for me, this was the most enjoyable production yet. Now, they would not have known this beforehand, but they were inviting someone who is a bit of an expert on Dad’s Army in me, and I am glad to say, they got everything spot on. That is not to say I would not have enjoyed it otherwise, but I can only applaud how much research had gone into putting on this show.
The play includes four original scripts of the classic sitcom by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, each keeping episodic format with two in each act. These are: The Deadly Attachment (Series 6), Mum’s Army (Series 4), The Godiva Affair (Series 7), and The Floral Dance (Originally a sketch during Christmas with the Stars (1970) and later performed at the Royal Variety Performance (1975).
Of course, there are many more scripts, but those in the show are ones best suited to stage. In Deadly Attachment, we have the well-known encounter with the U-Boat Captain and “Don’t tell him, Pike.” The Godiva Affair has Morris Dancing and (the never seen) Elizabeth Mainwaring stealing the moment at the end while The Floral Dance exploits a chance for a bit of pantomime style singsong. But it is Mum’s Army which appealed most as like in the series, it shows a different side to the stuffy, pompous Captain Mainwaring as he falls in love with another woman (Mrs Gray) and is heartbroken when she leaves. Possibly the only episode to end without studio laughter, showing that comedy and tragedy are never far apart.
Of the cast, I can only give the highest compliment, and I felt that I was watching the originals. At the top of this tree was Andrew Potter who was so like Arthur Lowe it was uncanny. The moment those glasses came off and a hand wiped the troubled brow I was taken back to my childhood of watching on TV. And the king of facial expressions, John Le Mesurier was brilliantly reproduced by Stephen Homer as the long-suffering Sergeant Wilson. Roger Goddard displayed Lance Corporal Jones’ idiosyncrasies and incompetence, always being out of step with the rest of the squadron. Likewise, with Frazer (Tam Weir), Godfrey (Geoff Westwood), Walker (Simon Wilkinson), and Pike (Tom Bowes), all were amazing and I have to say again, kudos to the research and application.
Supporting, we had Diane Hingley as the glamourous Mrs Fox, reproducing Pamela Cundell’s original portrayal well, plus Rachel Royal (Mavis Pike), Lee Southall (Private Sponge/Rev Farthing), Tim Harding (Hodges) Dominic Butters (Mr Yeatman), and Raymond Turrell (Colonel Pritchard) completing superbly the rest of the regular cast. The remaining characters were also equally strong, namely Beth Siviter-Coupland (Mrs Gray), Richard Cooper (U-Boat Captain and Mr Cheeseman), Sarah Jennings (Waitress), Rebecca Bate (Edith Parish), Kerry Whatley (Ivy Samways), Charlie Harding (Mrs Ironside), Julia Lindop (Mrs Prosser) and Dave Healing and Mike Richardson (U-Boat Sailors).
Credit to production for costumes, and for the set, created by Richard Cooper. Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall is what it says on the tin, a small venue, so to have that effective set look so well was excellent. And well done to Steve Percy and his backstage crew for working in what I can only imagine would invite a new definition of the word, cramped. Excellent lighting from Going Dark complemented the show, separating scenes well at times. A thorough, all-round triumph. Finally, Dad’s Army was directed by Emma Harley (also in charge of sound) and I can only heap as much praise as I can. Many years ago, for a wartime concert, I wrote and directed a script based on the characters of Dad’s Army (Names were changed to protect the guilty) and that was a labour of love. I can tell from everyone involved in this Tinkers Farm production that this was a labour of love too, as it was for me writing this review.
Cheers.
Antony N Britt
*Photos taken from social media.
Antony N Britt - Author 