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 | Dad's Army Adelaide Repertory Theatre Director: Phyllis Burford Season closed 'Dad's Army' has a long history going back to World War II, starting with the teenager Jimmy Perry joined the LDV (Local Defense Volunteers), later known as Britain's Home Guard. Partnering with fellow writer David Croft, Perry used his fond memories of the evening parades, aged officers, dimwits and weekend warriors to create the fabulously successful BBC TV series which ran for a very respectable nine years, beginning in 1968. The film came out in 1971 and the musical stage play premiered in 1975. As Perry and Croft are quoted in the program, 'Dad's Army' is an ideal production for a theatre company to produce while taking sharp aim at a nostalgic audience of Anglophiles. Judging by the enthusiastic reaction - most sang the numerous vintage ditties along with the cast - and the sea of blue rinse across the stalls, the Rep Theatre and director Phyllis Burford hit the bull's eye. The stage show of 'Dad's Army' comprises four separate TV-style sitcom episodes: while the first provides the greatest dose of fun and drama, and the second drips with pathos, the two after interval were of far less interest and short of a story. Aging like a bottle of Hermitage Grange, the unrelentingly charming Gordon Poole had a busy night leading the cast playing the CO, Captain Mainwaring, with suitable pomposity. Paul Rodda was an oleaginous black marketer and David Rapkin was a jovial baritone. While the males managed to provide individualised persona in their share of the nearly 40 characters, the women unfortunately weren't written to be anybodies in particular. Myfanwy May, for instance, couldn't wait to finish her song. Phyllis Burford could have paid more attention to grandfather time - I mean, the whole war was only six years. But with her team of costumers, designers, singers and Barry Hill tickling the 88s, she recreated a sentimental atmosphere where Brits of diverse backgrounds were bound by their love of King and country, or conscription, to work together and contribute to the war effort. Perhaps not my cup of tea, but I know a good brew when smell one.  | |
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