In this feature, I'll share a weekly guest with you all each week, and you tell me in only three words what comes to mind.
This week, sad news. The passing of an actress in what may have been one of the most recognized comedies and characters on both sides of the pond ....a swell and talented actress and one of my favorites... from Plain Jane, to Keeping Up Appearance "Bouquet residence, Lady of the house speaking".... to Heddy Wainthropp Investigates and playing Kitty from Victoria Wood, not to mention too many to name stage performances...
"When I approach the pearly gates, I'd like to hear a champagne cork popping, an orchestra tuning up, and the sound of my mother laughing."
"[about her damehood] I'm very surprised indeed, but very pleased that the honor pertains to theatre."
"I just want to do good work with good people in good places. And as for retirement, I can hardly spell the word. I'm driven, really. The demons won't lie down."
"People have always pitied spinsters. We have been derided, as if we had missed out on life. Well, we need not miss out on anything today!"
"We were betrayed by the BBC. We finished series four of Hetty Wainthropp, we were told there was going to be series five. But no word ever came - how rude! The BBC is run by 10-year-old children."
My good friend Miriam and I went out to grab some vittles last night. Chinese. Authentic. I was never more frustrated. And what has China ever given the world? Can you really respect a nation that has never taken to fine cutlery? And what happen? We bring these folk over here, and they litter the streets with bean sprouts. I know what your going to say. What about the Chinese acrobats? OVERRATED! I could hop up on a high wire, on a unicycle, and balance a wheelbarrow on my eyebrows!!!! But I'm far to busy and sauced to do that. And don't ask about the hair.
If the Mistress does happen to be home on a Saturday night, she is watching one of her favorite actresses Patricia Routledge on BBC's Keeping Up Appearances. This woman will stop at nothing to make sure her reputation stays ahead of the pack and will not be outdone by anyone. I have the whole series on DVD and crack up every time I watch them. Have you ever seen this show? And believe it or not Patricia Routledge is one of England's most popular actresses. Patricia is a actress and a singer, and her roles in British television has been a very long and successful career in both musical theatre as well as film and television. After years of a long line of very successful British plays, her American Broadway debut in Darlings of the Day,garnered her a Tony Award for the play. Routledge also had many television appearances before hitting comedy gold with the high profile role of Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC's Keeping Up Appearances, where she portrayed a former working class woman with social pretensions. She insists her surname be pronounced "bouquet", and has visions of grandeur. The series ran from 1990-1995 and ended at Routledge's request so she could star in another venture, the long-running hit series, Heddy Wainthropp Investigates, which the Mistress also loves. It was sort of like a Murder, She Wrote but not as corny. Routledge's career started in 1952 and she is still going strong. Here's to more Hyacinth and Patricia Routledge. Now on to two of my favorite scenes from Keeping Up Appearances. I love the second clip in the series finale, where Hyacinth and her brother-in-law,Onslow who she can't stand, end up on the same cruise and she finally gives in and dances with him.
