The Casual Vacancy T.V.Drama.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K.Rowling.
"We are the
guardians of something unique. We are the custodians and the stewards of a
shining principle. We do not turn our backs and look away from people in
need."
The tv drama was written by Sarah Phelps and produced by
Ruth Kenley-Letts. Rowling herself was one of four executive producers. Set in
what seems an idyllic setting, fictional Pagford turns out to be a village
divided between the privileged do-gooders, the hypocrites in society with the
trappings of middle-class affluence compared to the working class and their
dodgy deals and drug abuse living in the Fields, a council estate on the
doorstep of middle England.
It might be said that Phelps and Rowling share a passion
for social justice which is a myth in "The
Casual Vacancy." Don't expect any. The story is heart-breaking. Phelps
rewrote the ending which was bleak and too devastating for words. She went in
search of a redemptive moment after the tragedy. Just compare the film with the
novel and you will realise what I mean by bleak and grim.
"We have but a
short time to live. Like a flower we blossom and then wither. Like a shadow we
flee and never stay. In the midst of life, we are in death."
The only honourable man, Barry Fairbrother, a solicitor
who believes in the vision of Sweetlove House which was bequeathed by Sir
Phineus Sweetlove 150 years ago to the people of the Fields. More recently the
Fields has become synonymous with drug abuse and petty crime. Howard and
Shirley Mollison, pretentious snobs but extremely influential through their
bullying tactics represent the Parish Council and want the house to be turned
into a hotel and spa. It is virtually dismissed as AOB on the agenda and Barry goes
ballistic and is supported by two other council members, Tess Wall and Dr
Jawanda. They want a proper discussion on the use of the house. He accuses the
Mollisons of "herding people into
ghettoes because they don't fit the aesthetic" and even compares it to
fighting fascism. This is nakedly political and dirty.
We see evidence of Barry's humanity (played by Rory
Kinnear) and social conscience when he collects Terri Weedon from the police
cell and drives her home. He cares for Krystal, her vulnerable and damaged
daughter who is the chief carer for her heroin addicted mother and her young
brother Robbie, a seemingly tough and precocious 16 year old, encouraging her
to go to school for maths and counselling then offering her an apprenticeship
working for him where she'll have her own desk.
When Terri breaks down the bedroom door, stealing
house-keeping money, some of Krystal's clothes and her little telly, to refuel
her addiction, Barry repairs the door and gives Krystal money to get something
to eat. When Krystal feels she cannot go on any longer it is Barry who pulls
her through. He also forks out £600 for a new door.
On the evening to celebrate his wedding anniversary he
collapses after suffering an aneurysm and dies. There were warnings at the
start when he crashed to the floor after cleaning his teeth, unconscious. He
thought it was the beer that was making him feel ill. An election is then held
to fill this casual vacancy and initially there are 3 candidates, Barry's
step-brother Simon, an obnoxious man who bullies his children and who is
involved in petty crime. He withdraws as soon as word gets round about his
criminal activities. Colin Wall, the deputy head is a serious contender up
against Miles Mollison, referred to as a "ventriloquist's dummy sitting on Howard's lap." Sadly he is
manipulated by his parents and made to be a laughing stock.
His wife Samantha has been branded a failure by Shirley,
her in law, as a wife as well as a mother. She enjoys telling her that her two
daughters haven't bonded with her and they have never loved her: "You couldn't even sell whore's
knickers in that ridiculous shop." There's nothing nice about Shirley
played by Julie McKenzie and even when she turns into a dithering wreck at the
end she is still pathetic.
Michael Gambon plays Howard, a mean-spirited,
uncharitable hypocrite who owns the local delicatessen and despises the plebs
as he calls the working class: "They
choose to stick needles in and rob decent folk." He objects strongly to these junkies
streaming through his village suggesting: "We
must raise the drawbridge and lower the portcullis." He has a weight problem
with over-indulgence as well as a heart problem. A premonition of death on a
number of occasions start to shake his confidence. He sees the ghost of Barry
with his wingman, the Grim Reaper asking what his legacy will be. Howard's
answer is cheese and we are left with
images of maggots crawling through the cheese in the shop. One gruesome image
of Barry is with worms crawling through his eye holes. It reinforces death as
being the greatest mystery which "yawns
open briefly and then it is filled by us. Dead meat. It's dark and it's lonely.
So lonely." The ghost of Barry dominates the run up to the election
with unflattering remarks on the council website, unearthing the skeletons
rattling in people's cupboards.
Robbie Weedon is the biggest victim. His mother is a
heroin addict and he is neglected. He has to rely on Krystal for his own
survival. Treats are chips from the chippie and a slice of bread. He is
surrounded by syringes and has to be locked in his room at night for his own
safety. What kind of a life is that for a little boy? None. Yes, the dark
undercurrents in this drama are worryingly frightening and show alarming
shortcomings in social justice. Is this really a microcosm for English
societies?
REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.
The tv drama is available from Amazon.
COPYRIGHT 2017. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this article review is reproduced in any form or fashion.
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