Homepage News Reviews - Acts - Shows - Screen - Radio - Books - Clubs Interviews Awards 2006 Edinburgh 2005 - Reviews - Blog - Previews Features Archive Awards 2005 Edinburgh 2004: - Previews - Shows - Diary Guestbook Forum © Emporium Of Mirth 2004 Editor: Lauren Murphy Reporters: Fiona Wilkie Natalie Joanne	Emporium of Mirth Nighty Night Julia Davis’s Nighty Night tis finally transferring to terrestrial and I for one shout ‘Hurrah’ from the highest possible vantage point. At a time when there appears only nostalgic hark-backs to comedy creations of twenty years ago and Geordie homunculi presenting ego-driven people on close-circuit celebrity TV (ccctv) Nighty Night pops up through the rear entry of BBC3 and musters much joy. On paper, it concept reads abit like a suggestion to an episode of ‘Terry-and-June’. However, this Terry-and-Jill sit-com for the 21st century involves more than a man falling into a pond in the title sequence. Jill Tyroll finds out her husband Terry (the actor Kevin Eldon) has Bowel Cancer. New neighbours Dr Don Cole (played superbly by Angus Deyton) and his wife Kathy (the very underrated and excellent Rebecca Front) move in across the road from Jill and hilarious consequences occur when Jill descends upon the unsuspecting couple and refuses to leave them. Nighty Night is much much more. Jill is played by the writer of the show, the truly remarkable comedy writer and performer Julia Davis. Her talents have already gained her an RTS award for her work in Human Remains. Just like Human Remains, Julia Davis has weaved comedic script from the most dire and awkward of social situations, highlighting the bullying of life and the comedy tensions therein. Her attention to detail is praise-worthy in itself. Jill Tyroll is more than an anti-hero. She is deeply troubled, horrendous, and vulnerable; a social bully, liar, manipulator and murdurer ‘‘in her mid twenties with a lust for life and a flexible spine’’. All packaged in red leather coat, gold jewellery and skimpy red skin-tight clothing Jill will stop at nothing when she sets her sights on her goal. Her target is Dr Don (‘‘Dark hair, red-jumper, quite a large face’’) the long suffering and reluctant husband of MS afflicted Kathy. The first episode sees Jill coming to terms with Terry’s Bowel Cancer. She copes by immediately joining ‘Lasso the moon’, a dating agency where owner Gary (Marc Wooton) pairs her up with Glen ‘impulse perm’ Bulb (played masterfully by League of Gentlemen genius and sometimes contributor Mark Gatiss). We are also introduced to Jill’s workplace – Jill’s beauty salon where all sorts of crimes against health and hygiene take place assisted by the constantly late, smelly, asthmatic and IBS afflicted Linda (TV’s Ruth Jones who is responsible for some of the show’s material) and the elderly and new denture wearing Joy (Kitty Fitzgerald). The cast is completed by amorous local vicar Gordon (Michael Fenton Jones) and his buxom wife Sue 2 (played by Felicity Montagu in a role almost unrecognisable from her ‘Alan Partridge’ portrayal as put-upon and dowdy PA Lynn). The script is tightly constructed and Julia Davis is clearly a keen observer of life in all its small seemingly incidental wrangles that thinly veil fundamentally warped social codes. The comedy comes from the kinaesthetic and verbal clashes that are like fragile porcelain being smashed by a lump-hammer. There is no room for petty social politeness or teetering on the edge of restraint – it is full-on and alarmingly funny. The performances are a total joy. Nighty Night is a real ensemble piece – all involved from the main players to the supporting artistes serve to create a warped and alarming world. If there was to be any criticism levelled at this show, it would be that there isn’t enough time to be able to see the assembled cast give greater insights into their characters as the cast line up are some of the best character actors around. There are few comedies that over 6 episodes cover situations such as hypnotic regressions in a church hall, choosing products in an S and M shop, erotic dancing to Marillion, Nuns attending pole dancing themed church coffee mornings, fake funerals, mass murders by childhood deserts, tea-dances in a hospice, and what sounds like Rob Brydon’s vocal tones singing chants on the ‘Caro and Barry Bibbins ‘Celebrate celibacy’ self-help course. Ennio Morricone's ‘My Name is Nobody’ is an inspired and apt title tune for the show, and Ali MacPhail and Henry Normal deserve praise for the production of yet another superbly crafted comedy programme. Julia Davis proves that with a cleverly crafted script and a stellar cast of comedy actors, laughter can be created out of the most disturbing and tragic of social situations. Davis should gain accolade after accolade for this, and is to be lauded as proof that women can write and perform cutting edge, unnerving and superb comedy. Nighty Night is refreshing and disturbing all at the same time. It is a white-knuckle and close-to-the-bone mirth quest and one that haunts well after the programme has finished. Nighty Night is up there with Human Remains and The League of Gentlemen and would get my vote for Britain’s Best Sitcom. Nighty Night BBC2 10pm Mondays with the following episode transmitted immediately afterwards at 10:30 on BBC3 Review by Jo. 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