Mapp & Lucia II

They're back! When we left Mrs. Emmeline Lucas and Mrs. Elizabeth Mapp-Flint, the dueling queens of Tilling (read: Rye, home of Henry James) in Mapp & Lucia (VL-11/96), the former appeared to have had the last word. But those who've read all six E. F. Benson Lucia novels know there's more to the story. Here, the saga of social rivalry, embodying all the foibles of country life in England during the period between the World Wars, continues. Lucia and Georgie marry, she becomes mayor of Tilling, and fads come and go as Tilling-ites pursue the arts and each other. The first series was a masterpiece, wherein--believe it or not--genuine dramatic tension could develop over a recipe for lobster. The sequel compresses material from the last two novels, giving the programs a hurried feeling at odds with a satire of leisurely life. The humor is less subtle, the characters portrayed with a broader stroke, and relationships are now presented with an edge that borders on mean spiritedness. But one must not be churlish. We've grown to love them all-- Major Benjy, Quaint Irene, Diva, Susan Wyse (M.B.E)--and will forgive them anything. Required viewing for all who loved the first series (an absolute prerequisite for viewing this one). Can we hope for the prequels? Aud: P. (J. Reed)