Tuesday 22 April 2014

Lord of the dance

I've watch the BBC sitcom "Rev" since it first started in June 2010. It stars Tom Hollander as the Rev Adam Smallbone a parish priest at St Saviour in the Marshes in Hackney East London. It's now in its third series and last nights episode was probably the best one yet.

Without giving away plot spoilers they managed to include most of the key points of holy week. That a comedy can include denial with reference to a cock crowing, the significant washing of hands, betrayal from a kiss and a cross being carried through the streets of London with abuse being hurled at the person carrying it was incredible. The cross was carried while Pie Jesu from Fuarė's Requiem played in the background, which made it surprisingly moving. The comedy was still there, but this series has dealt more with the challenges facing a parish priest than knockabout laughs.

The acting as ever was first rate and was added to by the cast including  Liam Neeson as God/Jesus and Ralph Fiennes as the Bishop!

It was also very moving and the end of the episode effectively dealt with the temple being pulled to the ground.

Let's hope next week's final episode deals with resurrection!

Beautiful country

 David Batt (no relation to Mike!) is better known as the artist David Sylvian. I use that description deliberately as besides being a singe...