Upstart Crow

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.

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.

This is a very intelligent show. Not everyone will be able to find the humour on it. It uses a lot of sarcasm and pictures the Shakespearean era with a lot of parallels to current days. The way it describes the public transportation delays and problems, we can always relate to what happens nowadays. One of the characters I can relate directly with Ricky Gervais personas (don't know why :) ). The critics about women's role in the society, political and government laws are always amusing. The way it dismantles Shakespeare work and how it should be interpreted is hilarious. In summary, if you like the intelligent English humour, and wish to learn a little bit more about Shakespeare life on a very flexible way...it is a must.

In a time when too many television comedies have become filled with formulaic stereotypes, Upstart Crow presents a funny show that doesn't talk down to the audience. I love the insider references to past shows such as Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin and Will's constant complaints about travel from London via coach. I love the creative language and the hints of prescience that come in as well as references to ideas that get scuttled or titles that get changed. The character of Green absolutely eats up the scenery, but there are wonderful low key performances from all of the characters. I have not enjoyed a series as much since the Elizabethan era BlackAdder or perhaps Fawlty Towers.

I've read the other (negative) review on here, and I sympathise, I can understand how this show isn't going to be to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed it on second watch, and have enjoyed subsequent episodes. I get the impression that there's been an attempt to recreate Blackadder, the visuals, ideas and setup, are very similar to Blackadder's early years. Naturally Upstart Crow doesn't come close to the great Blackadder, but it's still a worthy attempt, and has certain merits of its own. My main criticism of this is the hideous use of canned laughter, at times it is unbearable, a semi joke, and the audience are laughing hysterically, it doesn't help. I've always been a fan of David Mitchell's brand of comedy, the supporting cast are fun, I think it's quite underrated.