Why Why WHY did they drop LUCY PUNCH ?!!
Whether it is a Feature Film, Television Series, Stage Production — even a humble YouTube event, it makes no difference — I think we can all agree that brilliant writing, inspired casting (often lauded as an "Ensemble Cast"), and body chemistry are paramount: The story is great; the writing superb; and the cast, a perfectly-tooled gear. Behind every successful Dramatic production you'll find at least two of these three standards have been met: perhaps the writing was so good, you can forgive some of the casting blunders; perhaps (Name) is so good she carries the rest of the cast.
Comedy as a performance genre is different for two important reasons:
1. Two-out-of-Three won't cut it in Comedy — you need to meet all three of the Dramatic standards above, and if that weren't difficult enough,
2. Comedy adds a fourth standard — timing — and this is very, very difficult to achieve because the actors will have it or they won't.
I mean no disrespect to Miranda Raison — she's great and I expect/hope to see much more of her — but the comedic timing (and chemistry) between Toby Stephens and Lucy Punch was like nothing I've seen in years. Toby Stephens performance as the arch chauvinist in Vexed is so pitch perfect that I'll honor his performance in Season 2 by purchasing both seasons of Vexed. To watch Lucy Punch catch even the slightest nuance of Stephens — volley it back to him and expand the moment exponentially — was EXQUISITE, like a tennis match between two champions of comedy. I could not believe they dropped her for Season Two and showed up at IMDB to learn when and how she died (!) because the BBC couldn't be so stupid as to have missed the Stephens/Punch (and what a great name! Punch! it's almost as good as Vivian Pickles) timing/chemistry?
They were.
Jesus wept.
You have your British Comedies: Reckless (1997) — Yes Minister (1980) and Yes, Prime Minister (1986) — The Black Adder (1983) — and now this rare gem, Vexed (2010), cut off before it even had a chance! I could cry!
And here on our turf: David Alan Grier and Damon Wayans in In Living Color (1990) — This Is Spinal Tap (1984) — A New Leaf (1971) — Young Frankenstein (1974) — Soapdish (1991) —It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) — Aladdin (1992). There are of course more, but I have found it nearly impossible to find even one Comedy production worthy of purchasing for my collection per year.
And (pardon the pun) that's Tragic. 😭