The latest offering from Messrs Pemberton and Shearsmith, the first-period piece they have produced and likely inspired by the classic Hammer Horror movies of yore. Entitled The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge It's safe to say that one of Its potential chief influences is The Witchfinder General (1968). The setting is 17th Century England, and magistrate Sir Andrew Pike (David Warner) welcomes two witch-finders, the fanatical zealot Mr. Warren (Reece Shearsmith) and the more moderate, conscientious Mr. Clarke (Steve Pemberton) to the small village of Little Happens (A fitting ironic title given the nature of what occurs during the episode). They have been summoned to the small community as local widower Elizabeth Gadge stands accused of Witchcraft, her accusers being her own daughter Sarah (Sinead Matthews) and her son-in-law Thomas Nutter (Jim Howick).
As the trial goes underway it becomes lamentably apparent that the odds are unjustly stacked against her, with it descending into a farcical circus as Mr. Warren co-presides over matters with chilling, single-minded zeal! But startling revelations come to the attention of the court which may tip the odds in Mrs. Gadge's favor.
A welcome entry in the anthology series, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge is to some extent a sublime indictment of the unethical, ideological evils that existed in the 17th Century due to religious fervor. This is wonderfully mirrored in the contrasting nature of the story's two principal characters, with Pemberton's Mr. Clarke embodying a 21st Century perspective as to how we as viewers would perceive the more skewered morals of the age. Shearsmith is appropriately chilling in the role of Mr. Warren affecting a sinister monotone delivery of his lines. A stark contrast to Mr. Clarke's more temperate nobility and conviction invoked in Pemberton's performance.
The absurdity of the events is deftly handled during the trial scene which is underpinned by the sparse moments of black humor as it descends into farce. The local villagers seemingly being primitive yokels whose sole purpose at the hearing is to gawk, boo and hiss during proceedings as if they were on a post-revolutionary version of The Jeremy Kyle Show. A wonderful cast of supporting actors offers able support with old-pro David Warner as the congenial and eccentric Sir Andrew Pike, a man who may very well have an amusing inclination of a sexual nature that is questionable, to say the least. Also, cult comedian/actor Paul Kaye is on hand whose own past history in black comedy is perfectly suited as an addition to the cast.
Ultimately though this is one of Pemberton and Shearsmiths finest half hours in terms of their performances as they effortlessly complement one another. It's only in the story's denouement that the supposed surprise twist (although I didn't see it coming) falls short of being genuinely shocking or revelatory! It feels somewhat tacked on as an afterthought as both writers were left hard-pressed to wrap up things sufficiently. Never the less The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge makes for a refreshing adage to the series. It's by no means Pemberton and Shearsmith at the height of their innovative powers. But as a solid way to spend half an hour of your time, it is a mainly rewarding experience only marred by its somewhat anti-climactic denouement.
As the trial goes underway it becomes lamentably apparent that the odds are unjustly stacked against her, with it descending into a farcical circus as Mr. Warren co-presides over matters with chilling, single-minded zeal! But startling revelations come to the attention of the court which may tip the odds in Mrs. Gadge's favor.
A welcome entry in the anthology series, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge is to some extent a sublime indictment of the unethical, ideological evils that existed in the 17th Century due to religious fervor. This is wonderfully mirrored in the contrasting nature of the story's two principal characters, with Pemberton's Mr. Clarke embodying a 21st Century perspective as to how we as viewers would perceive the more skewered morals of the age. Shearsmith is appropriately chilling in the role of Mr. Warren affecting a sinister monotone delivery of his lines. A stark contrast to Mr. Clarke's more temperate nobility and conviction invoked in Pemberton's performance.
The absurdity of the events is deftly handled during the trial scene which is underpinned by the sparse moments of black humor as it descends into farce. The local villagers seemingly being primitive yokels whose sole purpose at the hearing is to gawk, boo and hiss during proceedings as if they were on a post-revolutionary version of The Jeremy Kyle Show. A wonderful cast of supporting actors offers able support with old-pro David Warner as the congenial and eccentric Sir Andrew Pike, a man who may very well have an amusing inclination of a sexual nature that is questionable, to say the least. Also, cult comedian/actor Paul Kaye is on hand whose own past history in black comedy is perfectly suited as an addition to the cast.
Ultimately though this is one of Pemberton and Shearsmiths finest half hours in terms of their performances as they effortlessly complement one another. It's only in the story's denouement that the supposed surprise twist (although I didn't see it coming) falls short of being genuinely shocking or revelatory! It feels somewhat tacked on as an afterthought as both writers were left hard-pressed to wrap up things sufficiently. Never the less The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge makes for a refreshing adage to the series. It's by no means Pemberton and Shearsmith at the height of their innovative powers. But as a solid way to spend half an hour of your time, it is a mainly rewarding experience only marred by its somewhat anti-climactic denouement.
