|
| Scots on the Box. "RBS 6 nations,
Scotland v. Wales". "Help" BBC2 Sundays, 9.30pm |
| Ah yes, that
game. Readers of a certain vintage will no doubt remember Wembley 1974, I think, when
the Forces of Darkness blootered us, what was it? 5-nil? Bad enough that we were beaten so
soundly by Them, but it was the manner of the gubbing that sticks like
velcro to the synapses. I well recall, sitting down to watch the game with my dear SO in a
TV room at Aberdeen University accompanied by an agreeably large carry-out. As the game
unfolded, it seemed that every time I reached for a sustaining can of Export, the
white-shirted devilspawn slammed yet another knife into my heart past the hapless Kennedy.
Brrr, horrible.
And last Saturday was a bit like that, when the Welsh back-line tore us into small,
dark-blue pieces within a minute or so of the whistle blowing. OK, so we came into a bit
in the second half, but still, a gubbing’s a gubbing.
I notice from the press that Andy Irvine reckons Matt Williams’s future as coach
should be reviewed after the England game this coming weekend. That’s after we play the world champions at
Twickenham… Nae pressure, eh Matt? Truly, the Aussie’s tucker is well and truly
oot..
To happier viewing, and no, there’s no discernible Scottish input into
"Help" written and starring Chris Langham and Paul Whitehouse, but I really
don’t care. Chris Langham, reliably doleful as ever, takes the role of
psychotherapist to Paul Whitehouse’s patient. That’s as in about 25
separate patients.
This really is a tour de force on the part
of Whitehouse with performances ranging from high farce through to beautifully observed
portraits of pain and loss. Calling this comedy is way too small a word for it, and when I
can think of the word that does describe "Help" adequately I’ll let you
know.
There’s the wise and compassionate Jewish cabbie, cheerfully, as far as we know,
discharging his duty to his dementia-afflicted spouse, while subtly challenging
Langham’s psycho-babble. Heart-breaking and inspiring.
And then there’s the magician who really can do magic, but all he’s worried
about is that the Magic Circle might think he’s got an unfair advantage when it comes
to doing tricks. He transforms Chris into a bishop in full regalia with ease, disrupts the
space-time matrix with impunity, all the while apologising for his gift.
In playing the characters, Paul Whitehouse is often completely unrecognisable, which,
in a sense, is a distraction. For the truth is Whitehouse could do all these characters
without transforming make-up and we’d still believe completely in any given character. The performances
and the writing are that good.
Have any readers seen that BBC Scotland thingy featuring a cartoon man and dog?
Apparently, these shorts are meant to help people learn to speak Gaelic. Unfortunately we
haven’t yet got to the gaelic for "complete waste of licence payer’s
money" but I’m sure it's just a matter of time. |
March 2005
New news
Recent news Contact
|
|
|
