All’s well that ends

Press, 25 November 1981, Page 22

All’s well that ends

Review

Ken Strongman

In the world of instant consumption television it usually comes as a relief when the final programme in a series is scheduled. It leaves hope about what is to come. From that viewpoint,’ Monday night was particularly good. “McPhail and Gadsby" treated us to the last of their undergraduate humour for the season. Perhaps one. should not criticise. At least they are walking where all others fear to tread. But the trouble is they aren’t . really very funny. There is the occasional spark, but they can’t seem to kindle the fire with it. They are at best sending up the unthinking, the unintelligent, and the bigoted. It is probably best not to ask why. Apart from these bellicose comments, one must admit that the cardboard cutouts of Messrs Muldoon and Rowling will be missed. For the last week or two they have been merging inextricably with the real (televised) thing. Also, Jon Gadsby deserves a mild accolade for his portrayal of Murray sending his girls off to the freezing works. “East of Eden” has also completed 'its eighth and final hour. These weekly twohour sessions are just too much, even when they are built round one of the best novels of a Nobel prize winner. “East of Eden” is a fine book and those old enough to have come under the spell of James Dean will remember the film with affection. The television version has not been up to it. It is difficult. to pinpoint what went wrong. It was something to do with there being too much music and with the actors either shouting in whispers or whispering in shouts. The menace that comes from breathy repetitions of the word “whore” loses its power in the end. The book is believable and although harrowing, is enjoyable. Somehow the drama of the story was too heavy on television. Aron telling his wife-to-be that they would never enjoy matters of the

flesh since he had vowed to give his . life to the church was not creditable. Cal’s constant search for himself in the remnants of his perfect, upright father and vicious soul-sucker of a mother did not ring true. It was all too cumbersome and the acting (with the exception of Jane Seymour) was too light. Most of them even looked wrong. As time went on so the characters became less likely. Do people warp and twist with the self-centred hatred of Kate? Are people so fascinated with the sins of parents revealing themselves in children? Is anyone so im tense, so holier-than-thou? This is all becoming as heavy as the series itself. It was probably just the tedium of the weekly ’two-hour stints. They are too much to take. In fact, for the last five minutes it was not too bad. Through a generous amount of facial contortion, it all came right and Cal received his father’s blessing. Unfortunately, “Mackenzie” has not yet finished. He is still crunching through life with his hob-nailed personality. . His business is prospering and his private affairs are becoming ever more covered in soap. What -marvellous lines there are; almost collector’s items: “Wouldn’t a clean break be better in the long run?” “You can’t stop believing in things you believe just because something goes wrong; you’re not eating your cake.” “0 Mummy, you’re wonderful.” Nuff said. Still, it was good to see Mac coming up against the ineluctable rightness of the upper-crust family he has wormed his way into. No doubt he will grind them down in the end.