Starring: Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Josie Lawrence, Neil Morrissey
Cert: 15

The long awaited DVD of the stage musical version of the spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques originally seen in 1984 on the BBC2 television series As Seen on TV. Performed at the Haymarket Theatre from 10th February 2005 to 21st May 2005. The musical was based around the loveable characters created by Victoria Wood set in an antique shop in fictional Manchesterford. Follows the soap operatic misfortunes of Miss Babs (Imrie), Miss Berta (Sall Ann Triplett), and the loveable cleaner (and scene-stealer) Mrs Overall (Walters).

The first half depicts the rehearsal schedule for the cast of the axed TV series and chorus as they endeavour to put together Acorn Antiques The Musical. However, instead of a retro homage to the nation-wide loved series they find themselves players of a subversive social critique with headstrong director John (Morrissey) behind the wheel. His intent being to lull the middle classes to the show with the title but then force feed them civil unrest, revolution and death.

Of course this isn't what the actors had signed on to do but a job is a job and they all get into it. John's life isn't made any easier by poor set construction, OAP dress rehearsal audiences and Bo Beaumont's (Walters) haemorrhoids. Ultimately, the production is rubbish but gets rescued when Beaumont's dead dog's lottery numbers come up and she invests the money to do the show as it should be.

The second half is the re-envisioned performance; just how you imagined it should be. Taken straight from the television and placed on stage in all their glory: telephones that still ring after being answered, missed queues, wobbly sets, prop upsets and costume mishaps.

The high street shops in Manchesterford are all being bought up to make way for chic coffee houses, credit and loan stores and thong shops. Only the proprietors of Acorn Antiques has what it takes to save their way of life. After they locate their dead father's will and discover they are due a small fortune it seems like their problems are solved. Well, as long as Babs and Berta can find their adopted-at-birth triplet sister, missing mother and then one of them get married with her blessing.

The marriage would be a relatively simple thing to solve as Berta is secretly engaged to Mr Clifford (Duncan) but he lost his memory twenty years ago so doesn't know he even loves her.

So, the first half is an oddity. You could potentially get lost in analysing the self-referential irony of watching a play in a format you weren't expecting about a cast putting on play that wasn't going to be as expected - how very Brechtian. Perhaps. More likely is that Victoria Wood required some padding after already having the weight of the second half on paper but it not being justifiably long enough.

You're watching actors performing comedic characters performing the Acorn Antiques characters who, in their own right, weren't supposed to be funny but were moreso because of that but instead of worrying about what biscuits to serve with tea Mr Clifford is slaughtering the local council. Wood has upped the ante on the revolutionary messages so much that it becomes all too ridiculous.

It is a truly strange opening but all the more funny for it. The 'actors' each have their off-screen personas that are as twisted as their on-screen ones: Duncan is a man after his next paycheque, Imrie is a fallen star, Triplett is just excited to be there and Walters acts like is a total celebrity.

But it is the second half when the show really comes to life and fans get to see exactly what they came for. If you are a follower and can imagine how the shoddily produced TV soap would look and sound put to Wood's indeterminable Coward-esque song style then you shouldn't be disappointed.

The plot, as stated, is as convoluted, banal and satiric as the sketch always was (and as most soaps are these days anyway) but also carries on from where the series left off. Yet I don't believe that you do need to be in the know to appreciate this as it is a parody that anyone ever having come in contact with a soap would be able to get into immediately.

If not that then the outstanding performances from some heavy-weight comedy actors should be enough of an excuse to watch.
Josie Lawrence is at her most comfortable in this genre; powerful characters, belting vocals and, as ever, the versatile physical performer.
Neil Morrissey has unchallenging roles but still puts his all in to them and proves his singing abilities stretch far beyond just Bob The Builder.
Sally Ann Triplett has big footsteps to follow in as she has taken over the TV part from Wood and has done so seamlessly.
Duncan Preston does what he has always done and holds his own amongst the female dominated cast. He also shows that he knows how to trip the light fantastic in an incredibly amusing solo dance routine.
Celia Imrie is a phenomenal actress; posh, sultry and wooden all wrapped up in a tight tweed suit. Her black and white Monroe/Dietrich number is a particular highlight.
Julie Walters is the absolute star of the show as Boadicea Overall; the doddery, put upon, tea lady with purist ideals of a world's problems that can be solved with a hot cuppa and a home made macaroon.

Extras: More oddities.
Firstly there is a karaoke option to the show so you can sing along (or at least know everything that is being said) to all the songs.
Secondly, during it's run, part of the deal of Walters performing was that she got a couple of nights off and so there are some alternative key scenes presented as played by her understudy, one Miss Victoria Wood. She is a brilliant comedy actor but, unfortunately, there is only one true Mrs Overall.

Overall, it's a brilliant show but doesn't have much added to it with the extras. As I scanned the official website Wood displays her acerbic wit in a brief history of her work and the show's inception and so I can't help but feel that a featurette in her own words would have made a great addition to the disk. And had they included a cast commentary then it would have made it a perfect package.