Set in the chocolate-box town of Rye in Sussex, this English comedy of manners was easily the best thing on British television this Christmas, as far as I am concerned. I just wish the BBC had produced more than three episodes of "Mapp and Lucia", although I have a sneaky suspicion there will be more in the pipeline.
Based on a series of humorous novels written by EF Benson in the 1920s and 1930s, series one begins with the pretentious Lucia arriving to spend the summer in Tilling (Rye) with her effeminate male friend Georgie in tow. Lucia renews her acquaintance with bumptious Miss Mapp, the queen bee of Tilling (in her estimation anyway), and from there on in, the two ladies lock horns.
"Mapp and Lucia" has a cast of the most eccentric characters, who create the most absurd situations. This could be dismissed as pure froth in pretty scenery, except the author has created (for me anyway), instantly recognisable people and written the most wonderful lines for them. English middle-class aspirations and affectations are ridiculed, as the protagonists compete socially, involving the hapless inhabitants of Tilling in their increasingly frenetic plots.
The critics have compared this TV series unfavourably with an earlier one starring Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan. Having neither read the books or seen the 1980s version, I am not in the position to comment. However, I shall immediately be watching all three episodes again on BBC iPlayer, and ordering the DVD when they are out.
"Au Reservoir"
Cheeseandchocolatemonster
Based on a series of humorous novels written by EF Benson in the 1920s and 1930s, series one begins with the pretentious Lucia arriving to spend the summer in Tilling (Rye) with her effeminate male friend Georgie in tow. Lucia renews her acquaintance with bumptious Miss Mapp, the queen bee of Tilling (in her estimation anyway), and from there on in, the two ladies lock horns.
"Mapp and Lucia" has a cast of the most eccentric characters, who create the most absurd situations. This could be dismissed as pure froth in pretty scenery, except the author has created (for me anyway), instantly recognisable people and written the most wonderful lines for them. English middle-class aspirations and affectations are ridiculed, as the protagonists compete socially, involving the hapless inhabitants of Tilling in their increasingly frenetic plots.
The critics have compared this TV series unfavourably with an earlier one starring Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan. Having neither read the books or seen the 1980s version, I am not in the position to comment. However, I shall immediately be watching all three episodes again on BBC iPlayer, and ordering the DVD when they are out.
"Au Reservoir"
Cheeseandchocolatemonster