Quarter 1 Reviews- 004 Historical Comedy- Old

004 Historical Comedy – Old

Gary Brown and Peter Leslie Wild directed a series of clever historical comedies (Take Away) about a fictional fish and chip shop in Leeds over more than five decades. These are the three I most enjoyed. Each episode went back further in time as a new group of immigrants tried their fortunes at the Battered Devil.  In 1988, in “Patty’s Patties” by Leah Chillery, the eponymous Jamaican matriarch returned from holiday to find her grown up son Everall (Daniel Poyser) had converted to Rastafarianism.  Patty (Yvonne Brewster) had to learn to let go of some of her prejudices—against Rastafarianism for one—in order to come to terms with her community.  She also had to realize that Pastor Andrews’ (Vincent Davies) rank did not necessarily mean he was to be trusted.  What Patty takes longer to recognize is that (white) electrician Jeff (Bernard Wrigley) might also be worth the time of day.  It’s heart-warming and quite funny to hear Jeff and Patty’s relationship take shape.  This was an amusing story with interesting characters.  It also starred Trevor Dwyer-Lynch, Danielle Henry, and Marcus Hercules.  

Going back in time a further three decades, “Ciao Chapeltown” by Sharon Oakes takes place in 1953.  I was pleased to find this story wasn’t quite the squeaky-clean, saccharine sweet drama of family acceptance that I expected.  The Battered Devil’s current owners, Eileen (Sue Kelly) and Italian immigrant Gianni (Joel Lessi), are preparing for the Coronation.  That’s when Gianni’s mother Caterina (Flamenia Cinque) arrives from Naples.  Gianni is less than pleased to see her, and it seems there’s more to it than her interfering—but seemingly sincere—ways.  Caterina is flamboyant, and Eileen’s father George (Russell Dixon) starts to wonder if she could be the one to replace his long-dead wife.  Meanwhile, Vito (Anthony James Anthony), another immigrant, isn’t completely happy with Gianni’s assimilationist ways (noting that British-Italians were interned during the War, something even I didn’t know).  Eileen can’t conceive, something with which Caterina becomes obsessed and insists is the result of a curse.  What will be the ultimate result of this culture clash?  What has Caterina done that so unsettles Gianni?  You’ll have to listen to find out.

Gary Brown wrote the final episode, “Bitter Batter,” which explains the unique name of the take-away.  In 1936, the owner is Jewish Melvyn (David Fleischman), harassed by blackshirts and rescued by Malcolm Hovis (Geoff Hordley), a do-gooder seemingly passing through.  Malcolm worms his way into the trust of all in the establishment, charming Jean (Olwyn May).  She and Melvyn have been having an affair for a long time, but he cannot marry her as she isn’t Jewish.  Melvyn’s mother is “Bobby” (Yorkshire for “bubby,” as explained by the sometimes helpful, sometimes annoying narrator; at least she breaks the fourth wall with him).  Bobby (Vanessa Rosenthal) eventually becomes suspicious of Malcolm, wondering what it is that he puts into the chip batter that makes it taste so good.  Meanwhile, Rachel (Julia Raynor), Melvyn’s daughter, wants to marry Harvey (Richard Jackson), a nice Jewish boy who was stricken with polio.  Malcolm insinuates himself here, too, by subtly prejudicing Melvyn against Harvey.  Who exactly is Malcolm Hovis and what does he want?  Entertaining and with a similar vein of magical realism as ran through MetaphorMoses.  The narrator was Stephen Grieff.  The Take Away series was originally from 2007.