Keeping Up Appearances – Darlington Civic Theatre

Writer:Roy Clarke

Director: David Graham

Reviewer: Ian Cain

The Public Reviews Rating:

‘Keeping Up Appearances’ is one of those programmes that is so deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness that it seems difficult to believe it aired for only five years, between 1990 and 1995, and a total of 44 episodes. The programme was ranked 12th in a survey of ‘Britain’s 100 Best Sit-Coms’ and has been transmitted all around the world. It also enjoys frequent repeat showings on the cable and satellite channel, G.O.L.D.

Now, almost fifteen years after it disappeared from our prime time television screens, The Comedy Theatre Company has lovingly revived this timeless and popular classic as a stage show.

Following the attempts of the social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket (that’s pronounced Bouquet!) to land the role of Lady Malvern in the local amateur dramatic society’s latest production, theatre audiences are treated to a bouquet full of laughs (pronounced bucket).

The action takes place in the church hall during rehearsals, therefore Elizabeth can rest assured that she won’t be responsible for breaking any of Hyacinth’s cherished Royal Doulton china ‘with the hand-painted periwinkles’.

The first national tour of this production boasts the added advantage that Roy Clarke has penned a brand new script especially for the stage. So, unlike some other stage adaptations of popular television sitcoms that are currently touring the provinces, it is not made up of four separate episodes sticky-taped together. This brings a refreshing element to the proceedings and some clever new catchphrases. Because Hyacinth is removed from her home environment, she is unable to answer callers on her ‘white slim line telephone with last number redial’ with her shrill greeting: ‘The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking!’ Instead, she accepts calls on her mobile with the equally pretentious: ‘You have reached the personal mobile telephone of Hyacinth Bouquet, this is she speaking!’

The cast, which includes Rachel Bell as Hyacinth, Gareth Hale as Onslow, Kim Hartman as Elizabeth, Steven Pinder as Emmet, Debbie Arnold as Rose and Christine Moore as Daisy, give sterling performances and each of the characterisations are first-class. It must surely be a daunting prospect to take on roles previously played by the likes of Patricia Routledge, Geoffrey Hughes, Josephine Tewson, David Griffin and Judy Cornwell. Debbie Arnold also has the unenviable task of playing a character that had been previously portrayed on screen by two different actresses, Shirley Stelfox and Mary Millar.

Sarah Whitlock and David Janson (who, incidentally made recurring appearances as the postman in the original television series) complete the cast as two new characters, Mrs Debden and Mr Milson.

Despite the fact that Hyacinth’s long-suffering husband, Richard, does not appear, he is constantly referred to throughout. The same applies to Hyacinth’s third sister Violet, the one with ‘a Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony’, and her beloved son Sheridan.

Credit should also be given to Malvern Hostick for his effective set design, and to Frank Kershaw for designing the kind of floral dresses and hats that Hyacinth would thoroughly approve of.

Those who are socially less fortunate than the illustrious Hyacinth should book their tickets immediately. After all, she is imparting her accumulated wisdom of years of candlelight suppers and charity sub-committee meetings because she is a giving person and a pillar of the community. It is nothing less than your social duty to attend and ensure that, in future, you too are capable of ‘Keeping Up Appearances’.