The script was terrible. It was full of modern colloquialisms (e.g. the nation wants to 'move on') and people calling each other by their first names inappropriately for the period. Laura Fraser acted the part with a modern Sloane Ranger accent and entirely lacked the gravitas that Florence Nightingale clearly had. Her experience of nursing before going out to Scutari was omitted. Michael Pennington was terrible as her father, weak and totally un-Victorian.
The time line of the piece was confusing and the music hall interludes were entertaining but out of place.
The later parts, with Florence agonising over her mistakes, were overdone. It is true she made mistakes, but unless I am much mistaken, she did not agonise over them very much, but rather tended to remain very confident of her abilities and fixed in her opinions.
The time line of the piece was confusing and the music hall interludes were entertaining but out of place.
The later parts, with Florence agonising over her mistakes, were overdone. It is true she made mistakes, but unless I am much mistaken, she did not agonise over them very much, but rather tended to remain very confident of her abilities and fixed in her opinions.