[NON-U.S. FORMAT (PAL) Region 2 U.K. Import - This will not play on U.S./Canada DVD players or those from most other countries outside of Europe. You would need a "multi-region" or "region-free" PAL compatible DVD player or computer.] REVIEW: Another BBC raid into their archives, The Best of Victoria Wood is taken solely from her early television series, a period that established her as a major name in British mainstream comedy. Although rooted firmly in a cosy, almost bygone age of English culture (her work is full of Northern references), Wood's reputation as one of the UK's sharpest writers is well deserved. She is particularly adept at creating a range of characters that not only provide great humour but also a fair amount of depth and empathy as well.
Assembling an excellent cast of players (the majority of whom she continues to work with to this day), the sketches here are a mixture of group pieces (the fantastic soap opera pastiche Acorn Antiques), musical numbers, a succession of wonderful head-to-heads with long-time sparring partner Julie Walters and, uniquely, the odd monologue (Patricia Routledge's Keeping Up Appearances character makes an embryonic debut in the shape of Kitty). Television watchers of a certain age may find the clips a little over familiar but this should take nothing away from a fine compilation.
