Set of six comical country sheep coasters by Claughton Images
Price:£11.70
Columbo: Prescription Murder - Darlington Civic Theatre
Jun 24, 2010
COLUMBO is one of those TV shows which appears to have been around forever. I did wonder if it was possible for it to be transported from television to the stage. I was surprised to learn that Prescription Murder was the first episode to be written and it was in fact written for the stage before it made it to television. This may have been back in the early 60s, but it is certainly not dated.With a production of this quality it is hard to know where to start. As with all Columbo episodes the audience know more than Columbo, as the first act takes us through the planning and execution of the murder before Columbo arrives on the scene. As soon as Columbo appears he receives a round of applause. Dirk Benedict well known for playing two other lieutenants in Battlestar Gallactica and The A Team is perfect as Lieutenant Columbo. You can't help but have Peter Falk in mind as you watch Dirk Benedict shuffle across the stage to perfection with every nuance you would expect but he also brings freshness to the role which includes humour I was not expecting.
Patrick Ryecart who plays Doctor Flemming is not overshadowed by the bumbling Columbo, and gives a strong believable performance, they are both supported by solid performances from the rest of the cast. The direction is slick and keeps the pace of the show moving. The set is detailed and complex, with difficult and lengthy scene changes, which requires an extra interval to allow them to complete a scene change, but although there are long pauses between scenes this does not detract from the pace of the production.
I wish there were more companies touring drama of this quality.
Columbo: Perscription Murder runs at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday 26th June
A J Harrison