Tonight at 8.30

OK, we've had the summary, now let's have a review. This is basically a showcase for Joan Collins, and it really depends on whether or not you can take nearly 4 hours of her (of course they could be watched separately). She certainly tries hard to play a variety of very different roles, even assuming a secondary part in some of the playlets. The material itself is a matter of taste, well-written yet facile, never more than scratching the surface. There is some humor, as well as some music in Coward's usual style, urbane lyrics and some pleasant tunes. The playlets are well and unassumingly directed. The supporting players are generally fine, including the wonderful Sian Phillips and John Nettles before Midsomer. One really sour note is the use of a laugh track in 3 of the playlets, most obvious in the Red Peppers sequence. On the whole, entertaining but unexceptional. I would recommend watching these separately, as 4 hours of Joan Collins is just too much. Anyway, it was for me.