Of Batman, spies, censorship, earth-moving, god-botherers and a Dame

RIP, Val Kilmer, gorgeous star of "Top Gun" and "Batman Forever".

Another snippets post today, dear reader:

• Spy news: Compact spy cameras, microdots in a talcum powder tin, a briefcase abandoned by Soviet spy Guy Burgess as he fled the UK, and a desiccated 110-year-old lemon that played a pivotal role in WWI are all on show in a new exhibition MI5: Official Secrets at the National Archives, opening this weekend. I wonder if they have any of James Bond's gadgets on display?
• Philistines news: Paris may be scented by centuries of coffee and Gauloise aromas, but the Paris Metro has banned a poster advertising a new David Hockney exhibition because he happens to be holding a cigarette! "L'Etat nounou", vraiment! ["Nanny State", indeed! in English]

• Never complain about potholes again news: Britain's 'wonkiest road' that was so badly damaged by a landslip during "Storm Eunice" in 2022 it was being used as a makeshift skate park has finally reopened after £5million was spent on repairs.
• False miracles news: Zealots in a church in Indiana who thought red marks on a communion wafer were some kind of miracle have been told it was actually just bacteria from being handled by dirty hands. Hallelujah!
• And finally: Among a slew of birthdays that includes Sir Alec Guinness, Marvin Gaye, Emperor Charlemagne of the Franks, Michael Fassbender, Emmylou Harris, "Adrian Mole" creator Sue Townsend, Paul Gambaccini, Casanova, Buddy Ebsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Serge Gainsbourg, Émile Zola, Linford Christie (who is 65!), Keren Woodward of Bananarama, Pedro Pascal (50) and - erm - Dr. Demento...

  ...it is the 85th birthday today of darling Dame Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life, To the Manor Born, and so much more besides - including her guest appearances on the Morecambe and Wise Show! All hail...

And the weather? The glorious Spring sunshine continues (even if the wind's a little chilly at times)!

Meanwhile, in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers...

We're gardening, the Margo Leadbetter way!

[The Good Life]

"I heard that!"

Glorious tulips in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers

Sharing a birthday with another mismatched ensemble of notable names such as Marvin Gaye, Serge Gainsbourg, Émile Zola, Camille Paglia, Linford Christie (who is - gulp - 60 years old; as was the gorgeous Michael Praed yesterday!), Ken Tynan, Emmylou Harris, Casanova, Sir Alec Guinness, Paul Gambaccini, Buddy Ebsen, Sue Townsend, Hans Christian Andersen, Michael Fassbender and Keren Woodward of Bananarama, our eternal house favourite Dame Penelope Keith blows out 80 candles on her cake today!



In these troubled times, we need as much uplift as we can possibly get, so let's wallow in just a few clips from the great lady's classic comedy moments - as the indomitable Margo Leadbetter...

The Good Life: "The Wind-break War"

The Good Life: Margo's Muddy Moment

The Good Life: Tom and Barbara's home-brewed wine

Many happy returns, Dame Penelope Anne Constance Keith, DBE, DL (née Hatfield; born 2nd April 1940).

We love you.

"Chequebook, Jerry!"

Speaking of overdue honours...

Arise, Dame Margo Leadbetter Audrey fforbes-Hamilton Penelope Keith!

Here she is - game girl, as always - on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show in 1977:

Penelope Keith on the Morecambe & Wise Show

And here she is as the redoubtable Margo in The Good Life:

The Good Life: "Silly, But It's Fun"

Penelope Keith

The very pineapple of politeness!

"If I reprehend any thing in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" Mrs Malaprop

Restoration Comedy is not the most accessible type of theatre for modern audiences. Yet given a good cast with crisp, clear diction one can make this most arch and stilted format into a crowd-pleaser. So it was last night, as the marvellous Miss Penelope Keith and Mr Peter Bowles tackled Sheridan's The Rivals - superb casting indeed!

The play itself is typical of its era - entangled relationships, mistaken identities, buffoonery, hilarity, farce, manners, manners, and more manners - and with a combination of excellent players, minimal (not distracting) set, and direction from Sir Peter Hall it was beautifully done.

As one reviewer put it:

"How do you play a character who has given her name to a word in the Oxford dictionary? Sincerely rather than as a caricature is what Penelope Keith gave us in her elegantly intelligent and sharply drawn portrayal of Mrs. Malaprop. It was a glowing performance, very well supported by Peter Bowles as an irascibly charming Sir Anthony Absolute, with Tam Williams smugly confident as his son Jack."

Indeed, every time Miss Keith was on stage, the atmosphere was immeasurably lifted.

We had a wonderful evening, and all this for free - with preview tickets from our friend Russ! If you'd like a classy, engaging and often hilarious evening's entertainment, I can heartily recommend this one.

No videos of the Theatre Royal performance (inevitably), but here's Simon Callow giving his take on acting in Restoration Comedy:

Simon Callow - Acting in Restoration Comedy clip

Theatre Royal Haymarket

"That's the last time I play the Tart for you, Jerry!"

As we celebrate Penelope Keith’s birthday today, I thought I had to post a clip of the lady herself in one of her finest roles, the fearsome Margo Leadbetter:

Margo's Muddy Moment - The Good Life

Penelope Keith biography