Last night I attended the opening night of 'Heartbeat' - the play version of the 60's TV programme at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, where I am a regular visitor. Having been a fan of the TV series (what a lovely Sunday night easy watching show!) I was looking forward to seeing this stage production at this fabulous venue, despite the £30 ticket fee. To say it was a disappointment from start to finish is a gross understatement.
Over the years I have seen hundreds of productions of all types, and also have performed in Amateur productions for over 40 years so feel that I have a good understanding of what is acceptable, and I can honestly say that I have never seen such rubbish performed on stage. Where to start really. Probably the fact that there was a 15 minute delay at the start should have given us a clue that there was a problem but no explanation or apology was given. Firstly the staging just didn't work, literally! The set was a bar scene (The Aidensfield Arms), which was supposed to rotate to a hill scene. This obviously had a malfunction from the start and turned back again, seemingly on its own, just as the first two members of the cast entered so they had to go off the stage then back on once it had eventually righted itself. Later on, during Act 2 it obviously didn't work again and hands appeared over the top of the set, and a loud ripping sound, that sounded like something being taped up. The pub scene then just stayed put till the end of the play, when it obviously should have kept rotating, as the Actors had to leave and walk off.
In addition to the pub / country set on stage there was also a screen stage right that had a picture reflected on it, occasionally the 'Aidensfield' sign, but for the most it was a blank screen with a diagonal bright white stripe across one corner, where the projector wasn't set straight. Very distracting and certainly not attractive.
A steam train was also reflected on a screen higher up on the set but when it was heard in Act 2 it abruptly stopped after a few seconds, certainly not realistic for a steam train.
In addition to this, the storyline was so weak, and certainly not even funny. Despite having two of the characters from the original TV version, David (David Lonsdale) and PC Geoff Younger (Steven Blakeley) it just didn't work. The acting from the characters of Gina and Bernie Scripps was really good but the other characters were unforgettable, the lad playing the Irish, (or was it Scottish, Welsh or European?) character was definitely not played well and the 'heart-throb' policeman was wooden and stumbled over his dialogue towards the end, as did the 'baddy'.
During the curtain call it seemed obvious that the cast looked decidedly uncomfortable and none of them smiled and couldn't get off the stage quick enough.
If the tickets hadn't been so expensive it would have been sensible to leave at the interval but one always lives in hope that it will improve as the play progresses. Sadly this wasn't the case and the discussion on the hour long journey home proved that I wasn't the only one to have the view that the production definitely was not worth even paying £10 for, let alone £30! As I say, a big disappointment from beginning to end. In all honesty I think a refund should be issued for the two tickets I purchased, which might encourage me in some way to attend another production. read more
