It's Gone Dark

It appears, yet again.... the Mistress is off  for a weekend getaway. There's even no site of all the houseboys!?!  But who are those figures in the hall?

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you early sometime next week, and make yourself comfortable. Tootles!

A Perfect Quartet...with Dame Smith

Dame "Maggie" Smith,  is one of my favorite English film, stage and television actress. And has she ever had an extensive career both on screen and in live theatre, and is known as one of Britain's preeminent actors. Plus I enjoy her in interviews, where she has the quotes.....

“The performances you have in your head are always much better than the performances on stage.”

"It's true I don't tolerate fools but then they don't tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that's why I'm quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies"

"People say it gets better but it doesn't. It just gets different, that's all.”

"I believe that I am past my prime. I had reckoned on my prime lasting till I was at least fifty!"

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw two weeks ago that her new movie Quartet was finally arriving.... and low and behold opened tonight in Doylestown at the vintage County Theatre.I almost took a lady off the sidewalk!

Quartet is a 2012 British comedy-drama,  and stars Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins. The story centers on  Reg, Wilf, and Cissy,  all retired members of an operatic quartet, living in Beecham House, a retirement home for gifted musicians and opera singers. The musicians and singers living in the house put on a concert on Giuseppe Verdi's birthday every year. However, the arrival of the fourth member of the quartet, Reg's ex-wife, Jean, played by Dame Maggie Smith, results in old rivalries and theatrical temperaments and it becomes unclear if the show will or will not go on, however the arrival of Jean,  disrupts the equilibrium. It was filmed in its entirety at Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire in autumn 2011. The film is actor Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, and by the looks of it , he's done a great job I'd say.

 I also figure with Downton Abbey wrapped up, this will be just the ticket for my Maggie Smith fix.

A Message From Lattrice Royale

 

She is still large and in charge....and lots of good lovin! Now she is a QUEEN!

 

Rosemary Clooney is Here........

 

My good friend the Dame Courtney has much to smile about, like Rosemary Clooney,  above, for today it is her birthday! Happy Birthday dear!!!!! So I just had to give her a birthday greeting and give her some of her favorite chanteuse , who she adores. Si I have conjured up some vintage Rosemary in honor of the Dame and her day!

 

Happy Birthday! 

 

Here is the Dame...snapped just today as she was leaving her town home. She looks great for 30, don't you think?

 

 

And here the Dame with some of her lovely staff. She too is a proper gal.

 

Like Rosemary Clooney, the Dame came to prominence in town with her trade mark saying, after the Clooney tune , "Come On-a My House", which made her very popular. As did her cock-a-tail parties.  And like Rosemary, both enjoy a killer frock, and a clean swept coiffure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And in honor of the Dame on her day, here is a little ditty from Clooney's movie, Red Garters...... it's like watching the Dame entertain while on a visit......

That's the Dame alright..." don't grab the package or touch the merchandise!" But I do have a feeling she dropped off more than her bustle south of Bufflo, but I digress. So I hope dear you have a lovely birthday today! And speaking of the Dame, at weeks end I'll be the guest of herself and the Master Russel for a weekend at their lovely town estate, which I'm sure will be bound to be entertaing. I just hope she has a tanker of gin on it's way.