Dad's Army, Alexandra Theatre

Apr 18 2008 By Andy Coleman

DON'T panic! A mystery "technical hitch" delayed the start of the first night of Dad's Army in Birmingham.

But once the curtain went up we were transported back to not only the war but also to a time when there was entertainment on the television which could be enjoyed by the whole family.

This stage version of the perennial TV favourite faithfully recreates four vintage episodes that were originally aired in 1969.

Two of them we won't see repeated on the box because the originals have been lost. The third, Room At The Bottom, despite being filmed in colour only survives in black and white, while show closer The Deadly Attachment is arguably the funniest ever Dad's Army episode.

The cast are tremendous, especially Timothy Kightley as Captain Mainwaring who, to his credit, becomes more like Arthur Lowe as the evening progresses.

David Warwick works hard to achieve the mannerisms of Sergeant Wilson and Kern Falconer is a grizzled Private Frazer, a dour Scot with few redeeming features.

Brian Jackson's Godfrey and Richard Tate's Jones are a little too sprightly compared with their TV counterparts but "headline name" Leslie Grantham is perfect as the spiv Walker.

"Stupid boy" Private Pike, played by Thomas Richardson, comes into his own in The Deadly Attachment when his name is put on the list by the U-boat captain.

For an evening of good clean fun, Dad's Army is hard to beat. It's at the Alex until tomorrow.