Outside Edge

I remember this as being good and being reminded of it by Robert Dawes appearances in Jeeves and Wooster, I decided to give it another outing.

The first couple of epsiodes were amusing and as I remebered it from the early 1990s.

However, from then on it went downhill fast.

It wasn't funny at all. Half the characters were just plain irritating.

The second series was bland. Just a reworking of essentially the same story lines and cliche's. The Corfu special was boring and too long.

The third series was just plan Maudling and depressing. Maggie and Kevin's desperation to have a child is not the thing of comedy, neither is the death in series 2.

I was looking for something better than some of the trash being produced today, but I have to say this wouldn't have made it to the screens today.

The whole idea of a comedy around a village cricket team is great, I would love to see one.

'Outside Edge' must stand as one of the best, if not one of the most overlooked, comedies of the 90's. The casting was absolutely superb, Daws, Spall and Lawrence were each brilliant, but it was the 'dowdy down-trodden' 'Mim' played by Brenda Blethyn that stole the show. It's crafted blend of subtle satire and drama rarely fail to hit the right notes, it has the power to both amuse and deeply move, all within the space of thirty minutes. Admittedly the last series never truly recaptured the glory of the first, but then the whole of the first series is an absolute gem. In short an a must see for both cricket and non cricket enthusiasts.

I've never been fond of cricket, so I was tempted to give 'Outside Edge' a miss. I only watched because of the presence of Timothy Spaull ( of 'Auf Pet' fame ) and the scrumptious Josie Lawrence. I'm glad I tuned in because if I hadn't I'd have missed I.T.V.'s last truly great sitcom, a delightful show centred around two cricket-mad men, Roger Dervish and Kevin Costello, and their contrasting wives, the prim and proper Miriam and larger-than-life Maggie. Shot on film, and without a studio audience to ruin the best lines, 'Outside Edge' was satisfying on all levels. It didn't bend over backwards to be funny. The regular cast were perfect, in particular Robert Daws, whose 'Roger' must rival 'Gordon Brittas' as the sitcom character you'd most like to throttle. The show had its tragic moments too; witness Maggie's sad pleas for pregnancy in the Corfu Xmas special. With more and more modern sitcoms relying on toilet humour for comic effect, it seems unlikely that we will get many more series of this ilk. More's the pity.

Whether you love or loathe Ricky Gervais, one favour he did do for us is kill off the godawful middle-class sitcoms that proliferated in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

For me, this one is a cut above, for a few reasons. Firstly, it's shot mainly on location (hooray, no laugh track!), secondly, the performances are mostly excellent, and thirdly, it feels like an affectionate poke at that most wonderfully eccentric of middle-class eccentricities, village cricket, and for those of us with experience of it, the deranged seriousness with which some otherwise normal people take it - as an example, I once had a 55 year old salary man who worked in banking, not speak to me for a day after I dropped an easy catch off his bowling, because I was distracted smoking a cigarette at the time.

I hadn't seen this programme since the 90s, I re-watched most of the episodes, as well as the original play from the early 80s, with a different cast of actors. Aside from Paul Eddington, who I think is exactly the right mix of gentle stalwart Brit with a dash of psychosis, and Prunella Scales who is always lovely to see, I think the 90s cast was an improvement, particularly Josie Lawrence and Timothy Spall, who bring a genuine warmth to the characters, even when confronted with lazy plotting about 'serious issues' that sitcoms in those days felt compelled to include for some reason.

Then there's Brenda Blethyn, who pretty much steals the whole show as the much downtrodden and ignored Mim. Robert Daws just confused me a bit in the role of team captain Roger, as he seems to be doing an impersonation of Rik Mayall (not that there's anything wrong with that), even his hairdo is the same.

Overall, I can't say I regret re-watching it, it's a nice gentle bit of 'forever England' (even if you live in Ireland, Wales or Scotland).

The characters and characterizations are superb. However, it is a short-running series and those are difficult to find a spot for on American television. There are simply not enough episodes for a normal alloted space; it can only be used as a filler, so is rarely seen.

Probably because the plot (cricket) is so specific, there are only a certain number of situations that can be addressed. Either the cricket match goes on, or it does not, and the team either wins, or loses. The trials and tribulations of Mim and Roger Dervish, and Roger's fellow cricket team players, play out within the confines of those few scenarios.

Roger is painfully insecure, and he covers up by bullying. He also has a problem with keeping a balanced perspective. His latest passion is his election as captain of his volunteer cricket team, and he takes his position very seriously. Sadly, he believes that he can compensate for everything that is lacking in other areas of his life if he can just create an excellent winning cricket team. To that end, he goes overboard in his expectations of his teammates and his demands of his wife.

Mim tries to be a supportive spouse, but she is painfully aware that Roger is lacking in sensitivity. For example, he expects her to not only be at his beck and call, but to also cheerfully anticipate his every need. While she certainly tries, she finds it difficult (for example) to provide a huge "feed" for his team, with no support or attention from Roger. In fact, she doubts his actual feelings for her, and she does not have the self-confidence to rise above her own limitations. She is a good, patient, and sometimes pathetic soul, but she also exhibits a bit of spunk, particularly when she is at her wit's end, and has allowed herself to be "walked on" yet again, by her insecure husband. Mim is sort of a cross between Debra Romano and Edith Bunker. She clearly loves Roger more than he deserves, but less than he needs.

The opening credits revealed the sameness of their "cookie cutter" neighborhood (and implied "cookie cutter" lives) and was an excellent visual to counter the complications of their lives. I wish they would have finally moved the focus away from cricket (change the name from "Outside Edge" to something more familiar such as "Whirling Dervish") and move the focus on exploring the relationships among the principals. Mim and Roger (and their friends) certainly had the "bones" for an excellent British sit/com.