The Stage

Dad’s Army Marches On

Published Tuesday 6 April 2010 at 10:30 by Kevin Berry

Following on from a successful tour of Dad’s Army - the Lost Episodes comes this linked staging of four episodes from the fondly remembered TV series. They include Branded and Mum’s Army, the respective favourites of Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

Leslie Grantham (Private Walker ) in Dad's Army Marches On at the Grand Opera House, Leeds Photo: Robert Workman

Seemingly, the key actors have been told to go for impressions rather than full-blown impersonations of the Walmington platoon, which is sensible. Timothy Kightley moves extraordinarily well as Mainwaring, and David Warwick gives his Sergeant Wilson an affecting physicality and charming manner. Yet the comic heart of Dad’s Army, the prickly relationship between Mainwaring and Wilson, is barely attempted. Thomas Richardson’s Private Pike does not act or move like a soppy youth. The possibilities he has for physical fun are almost non- existent.

Leslie Grantham plays the spiv Private Walker and also acts as narrator. He sets a poor example, merely walking on and not trying for the furtiveness his character needs. Exits and entrances from almost everyone are ill disciplined, and some scene endings look muddled.

A bare back cloth is relieved by an occasional window or other item flying down. There is no attempt at a landscape showing Walmington; no searchlights across a sky. Even with familiar material audiences will still appreciate scene setting.

Nevertheless, this is a laughter-packed show. The scripts and the audience’s affection for the characters and favourite phrases will see to that. But the staging does disappoint.