003 Historical Comedy – New
April marked Spike Milligan’s centenary. I knew him from The Goon Show, which I have tried in
vain to introduce to my radio students, the new adaptation of The Bed Sitting-Room from a few years
ago, a volume of his poetry I read, and enthusiastic champions of his books in
the series Adolf Hitler and My Part in
His Downfall. I didn’t know very
much else but, thanks to Ian Billings’ Spike
and the Elfin Oak, I do now. David
Threfall was an inspired choice as he played Milligan absolutely to a tee. This must surely be a BBC Audio Drama Award-worthy
performance. And it’s a story that’s
super-radiogenic. How else could people
be made to believe a story in which Spike Milligan talks to elves and fairies
at the base of an oak in Kensington Gardens and then campaigns for their restoration,
for it all to be destroyed by a pair of drunks?
The elves pay a visit to “Poet Spike”’s (how touching, as I assume it’s
as a poet he wanted to be known) office, including Mrs Grumples, Groodles,
Hucklebery, and Dinky (who can only say “Sidcup”). It’s during the run of The Bed-Sitting Room, which the Lord Chamberlain’s office is
pestering Milligan to censor. Norma
(Kerry Gooderson), Spike’s long-suffering agent, also makes an appearance.
There is a suitably fitting trumpet solo, as well, when Spike plays jazz with
the elves (as one does). Directed by Gemma
Jenkins, it also starred Charlie Brant, Rosie Port, Charlotte Emmet, Georgie
Glenn, Luke Bailey, Lauren Cornelius, Ryan Furleigh, Clive Hayward, Neil
McCall, Philip Rebereton, Rupert Halliday Evans, and Ryan Early (that’s a huge
cast for a modern drama).
No comments:
Post a Comment