National Treasure

Operation Yewtree is always going to be a fertile area for drama and National Treasure succeeds in delivering it. The central role of a superannuated comedian ( Paul Finchley) arrested on rape charge allegedly perpitrated in the 70s is well played by Robbie Coltrane. A strong cast also features Julie Walters as his wife Marie of 40 years marriage and committed Catholic and Andrea Riseborough as his recovering addict daughter Dee. Jack Thorne who wrote the mega hit Harry Potter and the Child Curse provides an excellent script.

Much will be unravelled so it’s too early to judge, an appropriate word as there is bound to be a court scene. The drama begins with Paul Finchley offstage about to deliver a life-time award to his comic partner Karl Jennings. Significantly there is a cell like steel cage barrier and he dwells and drools too long on the easy roll of the hips of the p/a babe escorting him to stage. Finchley emerges as a sympathetic figure: a family man, avuncular, no envy of his comic partner. He is bewildered by the charge and protests his innocence. The police tip off the press and soon the most telling court of law is that of public opinion. He engages a slick lawyer, one of several cast members who delivered a flat performance compared to the nuanced roles of Coltrane, Walters and Riseborough. I won’t predict the future episodes but I expect the front of Finchley’s innocence to disintegrate and family ties to be stretched. I’m hooked.