Ladies In Black (Sunday on ABC) is the latest Australian movie to be turned into a TV series. This version re-casts every one of the original characters, which is a bold move to make considering how many others needed at least one actor for continuity. There is nothing to fear though, because it all clicks from the opening moments, meaning the transition from film to television is seamless and brilliant.
The original movie, set in 1959, was a beautiful ode to the era of dressing up in your finest clothes to go department store shopping in the city. Nothing bad happened in the film and everyone got a happy ending but the TV series, now set in 1961, needs some drama. That makes the vibe less joyful, but it’s not a deal breaker.
Perhaps one of its messages is how the innocence of the 50s is changing dramatically in the 60s. Women in Black: Magda (Debi Mazar) and newcomer Lisa (Clare Hughes) Every performance in Ladies In Black is spot on, and any actor putting their own stamp on the original characters does so without taking anything away from the perfect portrayals seen in the film. Everyone, from Claire Hughes, Jessica De Gouw, Azzi Donnelly, Russell Dykstra, Huw Higginson, Sacha Horler, Thom Green, Ngali Shaw, Julian Maroun, Todd McKinney, Peter O’Brien, Kate Box and Carlos Sandor Jr, is wonderful.
The scene stealers, however, are Debi Mazar (Magda) and Mirando Otto (Mrs Ambrose) as they snark at each other through clenched teeth. Their ongoing battle for sales, prestige .
