Upstart Crow

Ben Elton shines again in this brilliant and witty send-up of Shakespeare. Clever writing and acting that manages to make modern references within the Shakespearean context. Many ignorant fools complain about a laugh track, but the show is filmed with a studio audience. Others say it's a rip-off of Blackadder, but seeing as both shows are written, and created by, Ben Elton there's obviously going to be some similarities in humor. Please enjoy this wonderful comedy, and ignore the bleatings of imbeciles that have no knowledge about the subject they're mashing into their keyboard with Neanderthal fists.

I find rather hard to believe that folk believe that there is canned laughter in this show. I also find it had to believe that someone who claims to have watched only 30 seconds of it can actually judge. I have attended 2 recordings of this rather clever show and can categorically state that the laughter is real laughter from real people sitting in their bums watching the actors sweating. Ben Elton is there throughout, pointing clues between takes for those not fully versed in Shakespeares. In fact in some of the breaks where characters have to make lengthy costume change he goes into long spiels about have British sit-coms are made and that laughter tracks are never used at the BBC.

Second series in now in the can - hopefully there will be a third.

I am a bit perplexed as to why so many find canned laughter offensive. When Red Dwarf did a few shows with no laugh track at all many fans complained bitterly. This show is smart and funny. It took a couple of episodes to really get going, but when it did it took off. As an ex-teacher who used to use an old Vincent Price movie to get kids into Shakespeare, I wish I had this around in my day.

PS: It is nothing like Blackadder.

We've been enjoying this show quite a bit. It can be uneven, but there are usually quite a few good laughs. And the more Shakespeare you know, the better! I doubt a show like this could ever make it in the US; kudos to the Beeb for continuing to take chances with content that demands something of its audience.

And we LOVE the little animations. Whoever thought of that is brilliant!

Yes, there are some references, including 'Bob' making an entrance, but it's disappointing that UC is down-rated by those who see it as a Blackadder series.

The dialogue is tight and fast-paced, makes great play with the absurdities of A level study and intersects with several historical and modern day themes, particularly as Southern Rail which is hilarious.

The cast are all excellent, whether playing straight or hamming it up. David Mitchel is a real surprise and Mark Heap is delightfully awful as the nasty, conniving, petulant, supercilious Robert Greene. However, Gemma Whelan is simply superb. She switches acting mode with incredible ease, delivers lines with extraordinary dexterity and pace and is captivating when reciting verse.

The live audience obviously enjoy the performances most heartily and the actors deftly weave around the spontaneous guffawing, This only adds to the timing and pace of the acting.

Ben Elton has done his homework and ought to get an armful of awards for it.

Please don't compare this to Blackadder. Take it as an intelligent, well acted farcical mickey take of Shakespeare and you'll get it. A first class production.