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Tuesday 6 March 2012

Roger and Val have Just Got in


This comedy drama, or bittersweet comedy, as it seems to be described on the whole, is based on the first half hour of the eponymous married couple arriving home from work. We witness their conversation and banter that usually centres on the mundane events of their everyday lives, but, of course, being a drama, it leads on to, or hints at, the deeper aspects of their lives and feelings. Starring Dawn French and Alfred Molina it seems to have received lukewarm critical reception and often negative reviews, most focussing on it not being funny enough, and it seems to split audiences between those who find it unfunny, dull and boring, about nothing, or those who find it brilliantly observed and a meaningful portrayal of an ordinary couple and their trials and tribulations.  Although most critics and viewers seem to agree that French and Molina are masterful in their craft and faultless in their portrayals.

It takes a little while to get into, admittedly (but what good show doesn’t?) and I found it rather stagey  and over-written at first, which was a  little grating. (My issue often with the theatre and plays being that so often the productions seem so unrealistic and over-engineered, and even pretentious with their “Look, this is just about ordinary people and their ordinary lives....but are they so ordinary? Oh no, look we were just using the mundane as a device to make some really deep points about life. See! Fooled ya! I’m soo clever.” Whereas with films they rarely have the pretence that this is an ordinary story, no, they leap in with the “Hell yeah, you gonna see some extraordinary shit here, dude.”  Or at least, if they are going to start in the mundane and normal they have the production budget and lack of time constraints to make it seem more realistic. Ok, so that seems to a prejudice on the timing and budgets here, but no, it’s not just about that, it’s the pretensions that plays so often seem to have...but that’s a criticism for another day and we could argue over this until Kingdom Come)   But despite the stagy reservations with RAVHJGI the two actors are so compelling, and are faultless in their acting that I got sucked in. As the story unfolds you start to find the clues to their hidden pasts or traumas and it is quite intriguing. The criticism that it just isn’t that funny is only really justifiable if you tune in expecting to find a hilarious sit-com, or hoped (god help you) to find something like My Family (why BBC? Why did this show continue for so long?) It is a more a drama with some amusing moments. Not laugh out loud moments, perhaps, but more of a tee hee or a titter.  There is something rather comforting about this show; it’s warm and human and a bit like eavesdropping on bus conversation where the two people don’t realise how much they are giving away about themselves in their conversation about trivial matters.

So, onto the set design and interiors... Well, I’ve already said that RAVHJGI is warm, and that is reflected and enhanced by the sets. There’s something comforting about the familiarity of their home; the 30’s style semi or detached home, the pictures on the wall, the knick-knacks and personal belongings. It is most likely a studio set, but is convincing as a real home, and the set design reflects the characters and their stories – the warm coloured and homely, slightly cluttered kitchen is a reflection of Food Tech teaching Val and her home running skills, and her and Rogers love of food; the rather impersonal, unloved and empty looking spare room a result of past tragedy. As someone who grew up in the English suburbs, the familiarity of the distinctive 1930s style home (the front door, and interior doors being the main giveaway of the homes age) is an immediate connection to them. And the cosy touches such as the curtains that are added to the entry of the “through lounge” ,  and the personal framed artworks are a nice touch.  The purplish bedroom with its country style furniture hints at Roger and Val’s ongoing connection with each other – attraction mixed with comfort and familiarity.  So why is this so different or better than your average soap set? Well, perhaps because it looks like so much thought and effort has gone into the design of their home, from the little details like Val’s bag and coats over the banister to a candlestick on the mantelpiece that has the look of a keepsake picked up on a foreign holiday or a gift from someone’s travels. The mixed crockery draining by the sink, the cereal packets lined up on the cupboards, the herbs on the windowsill, the full, and often opened, fridge.
 Downstairs of Roger & Val's

The Hall

The classic 1930s front door - Love the grubby finger print details (keeping it real).








The Kitchen

Homely with a bit of normal clutter
                                                  
                                      
                                           
 
    
                                         
Rog and Val love their food
The conservatory can be seen in the background here and in the next two shots, where Roger keeps his beloved plants



The Lounge    
The stylish and comfortable lounge




A touching moment between Roger and Val

I like the artworks in their home - tasteful and personal touches













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