Rising Damp (2.5/5.0)
The Comedy Theatre Company
Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, England
10 June 2014
Director: Don Warrington, Writer: Eric Chappell
Cast: Stephen Chapman [Rigbsy], Paul Morse [Alan], Chris Charles [Philip], Airlie Scott [Miss Jones]
The best sitcoms have an intimacy born out of familiarity and identification. The familiarity almost held-up, established characters once played by leading actors were clearly if simply rendered. The story needed historical depth or contemporary references, lacking both it had only a light nostalgic resonance. Stage to TV to stage may be one journey too many.
(The original cast was Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale, Don Warrington & Frances de la Tour)
