Monday, February 23, 2015
PHThe village of Painswick where the drama was filmed
The three-part mini-series, based on J K Rowling’s novel, was filmed in the village of Painswick, Gloucestershire, and has caused controversy because of its portrayal of Middle England and local politics.
However, Caroline Crawford, director of local charity gallery Art Couture Painswick, which was transformed into a doctor’s surgery for the show, said: “I really enjoyed The Casual Vacancy, it was very representative of village life.
“I thought you could even put people you know to all of the characters. It is missing a lot of good people too but there is an element of that negativity as well. Rowling got it pretty spot on.”
The plot centres on fictitious Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English town with a cobbled market square.
However, behind the pretty facade is a town at war: rich with poor, teenagers with parents, wives with husbands and teachers with students.
Packed with stars, including Abigail Lawrie as troubled teenager Krystal Weedon, it features “nasty” right-wing characters, like councillor Howard Mollison, played by Michael Gambon, who are involved in a battle to turn a food bank and methadone rehabilitation clinic into a hotel.
Tory MP and former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he believed the timing of the broadcast was “very odd at least... in the run-up to a general election”.
Yet gift card shop owner Dawn Mallinson, 75, thought the depiction of the parish council in the drama was realistic.
PHTRUE LIFE: Michael Gambon as Howard Mollison
Every chocolate box village needs a scandal and there’s plenty of scandal here
Gift card shop owner Dawn Mallinson
“The parish council is as far as many people are concerned the centre of the village so it was very representative,” she said.
“I’ve lived here for 27 years and people wouldn’t believe what goes on. I thought it was true to life. Every chocolate box village needs a scandal and there’s plenty of scandal here.”
Charles John, 24, manager of The Falcon pub hotel and restaurant, agreed: “It all happens in villages, there are all sorts here. I think they got it just right. I’ve no problems with the programme.
I really liked it. It can only be good for the village. It can’t do us any harm.”
Painswick is the setting of many exterior and interior shots, including the controversial lingerie Boutique belonging to Keeley Hawes’s character Samantha Mollison.
MARKKEHOECRAIG DIXON: We ran out of cups, plates everything. I can only put it down to The Casual Vacancy.
MARK KEHOEDAWN MALLINSON: Every chocolate box village needs a scandal and there’s plenty of scandal here.
MARK KEHOEAROLINE CRAWFORD: I enjoyed it. It was very representative of village life. Rowling got it spot on.
MARK KEHOECHARLES JOHN: I liked it. It can only be good for the village. It can’t do us any harm.
The fake shop hit the headlines when visitors wrote to the parish council to complain it made the village look like London’s Soho.
Parish councillor Rob Lewis said: “Some people complained but we pointed out it was only temporary. In fact I came across a group of well-dressed elderly ladies heading to the shop. The show has been a very positive thing for the village. It has put Painswick on the map.”
Businesses have benefited after 7.3 million people tuned into the first episode last Sunday. The Patchwork Mouse coffee shop shut its doors after an influx of visitors.
Owner Craig Dixon said: “We had run out of cups, plates everything. I’ve never seen anything like it. I can only put it down to The Casual Vacancy.”
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Kara Scott
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