Columbo is, for me, shrouded in nostalgia, holding a place in my affection as something that mum and dad would have been watching on TV whilst I would have been playing on the sofa with my Pippa Dolls. Today, it holds the same comfortable place for me in daytime viewing: something that I catch when I’m doing the ironing whilst my daughters play with their virtual equivalent of Pippa Dolls on their Nintendo DS’s!

How nervously then did I consider the task of Dirk Benedict? Would it be possible to do justice to this treasured icon so intrinsically merged with the original TV series actor, Peter Falk’s definitive interpretation? How challenging was it for Dirk Benedict to act this role without becoming a two-dimensional impression of Peter Falk’s interpretation and then how difficult for Dirk Benedict to shake off his iconic past role of Face from NBC’s 80’s series “The A Team”? Brave man or Fool?

The beautiful velvets of this lovely Victorian Theatre open to reveal the perfect 70’s sets for this tribute to the first ever episode of Columbo. Set design was simple and simply delightful. Patrick Rycart breezes the quintessentially English psychiatrist, Doctor Flemming and compliments Elizabeth Lowe’s role as his younger mistress. I would have loved to have seen more of Karen Drury, but having landed the part of the doctors rich wife, sadly her demise was swift, early and as expected. George Telfer role as Dave Gordon was clearly executed and Karren Winchester as Miss Petrie, the good doctor’s discrete secretary, gave a truly delightful and understated performance.

As to the “star” of the show, I have to say Dirk Benedict executed the task with precision and a high degree of success. He incorporated all of the moves and absent-minded ticks that we associate with Peter Falk’s interpretation of Columbo. As an actor he was damned if he did, damned if he didn’t. To re-create the role from scratch would have felt like betrayal, but to do a mere impression of Peter Falk would be pointless and to his credit I think Dirk Benedict walked that tight-wire with determined conviction which resulted in a polished and thoroughly enjoyable performance.

I did catch myself thinking of Charlie Chaplin during one of Dirk Benedict’s tie-twiddling moments, but on reflection, the merging of Charlie Chaplin and Columbo could possibly perceived as inspired genius.

Reviewer Symantha Simcox
Reviewed at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre – Mon 24th May 2010