columbo - review Middle Ground
Theatre Company presented Prescripton: Murder,
featuring the legendary Lieutenant Columbo in
his first ever case.
shropshirelive.com
reviewer, Symantha
Simcox, went along to the performance at
Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre.
columbo:prescription murder- reviewed
by Symantha Simcox
The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - Mon 24th - Sat 29th May 2010
Columbo is, for me, shrouded in nostalgia,
holding a place in my affection as something that mum and
dad would have been watching on TV whilst I would have been
playing on the sofa with my Pippa Dolls. Today, it holds the
same comfortable place for me in daytime viewing: something
that I catch when I'm doing the ironing whilst my daughters
play with their virtual equivalent of Pippa Dolls on their
Nintendo DS's!
How nervously then did I consider the
task of Dirk Benedict? Would it be possible to do justice
to this treasured icon so intrinsically merged with the original
TV series actor, Peter Falk's definitive interpretation? How
challenging was it for Dirk Benedict to act this role without
becoming a two-dimensional impression of Peter Falk's interpretation
and then how difficult for Dirk Benedict to shake off his
iconic past role of Face from NBC's 80's series "The
A Team"? Brave man or Fool?
The beautiful velvets of this lovely
Victorian Theatre open to reveal the perfect 70's sets for
this tribute to the first ever episode of Columbo. Set design
was simple and simply delightful. Patrick Rycart breezes the
quintessentially English psychiatrist, Doctor Flemming and
compliments Elizabeth Lowe's role as his younger mistress.
I would have loved to have seen more of Karen Drury, but having
landed the part of the doctors rich wife, sadly her demise
was swift, early and as expected. George Telfer role as Dave
Gordon was clearly executed and Karren Winchester as Miss
Petrie, the good doctor's discrete secretary, gave a truly
delightful and understated performance.
As
to the "star" of the show, I have to say Dirk
Benedict executed the task with precision and a high
degree of success. He incorporated all of the moves
and absent-minded ticks that we associate with Peter
Falk's interpretation of Columbo. As an actor he was
damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. To re-create
the role from scratch would have felt like betrayal,
but to do a mere impression of Peter Falk would be pointless
and to his credit I think Dirk Benedict walked that
tight-wire with determined conviction which resulted
in a polished and thoroughly enjoyable performance.
I did catch myself thinking
of Charlie Chaplin during one of Dirk Benedict's tie-twiddling
moments, but on reflection, the merging of Charlie Chaplin
and Columbo could possibly perceived as inspired genius.
