Patricia Routledge & Hollywood Indians

[Gary D.]

What’s happened to Patricia Routledge? It looks like, from IMDb, that the last thing she did was narrating something on the Brontes back in 2003.



Unless PBS picks up a British program, I am pretty much unacquainted with a lot of the U.K. television talk.



Patricia Routledge, of course, is a different story. I can’t believe it’s been thirteen or more years since Keeping Up Appearances (which is still being shown on PBS here in Phoenix). She was so good as the pompous Hyacinth, that I was surprised, in one program, where she had a small part as a lorry driver, of all things! Then Hetty Wainthropp came along, and she surprised me again.



It’s not British--exactly--but the Tony Hillerman books are to be recommended. The reason I bring this up is, Robert Redford apparently couldn’t get financing for a majority Indian cast and finally people in the U.K. who made the Inspector Morse series contributed the principal financing.



These three movies are not to be missed—if only for the beautiful scenery on the Navajo Reservation, which occupies a large area of Arizona and New Mexico. The Indian actors, not all Navajos, even though they play them, are very good—particularly Adam Beach, who I think is from Canada. It’s really good to get away from Hollywood ‘Indians’ as portrayed by Rock Hudson and Jeffrey Hunter (although Jeff Chandler pulled it off as Cochise).



Driving through Navajo country is something to be experienced. I don't know how financially viable their reservation is (they refuse to have gambling casinos, as do most other tribes), but they occupy incredibly beautiful country. As you travel, you get the feeling that the mesas (Spanish for tables, I think) are ruined medieval fortresses--it doesn't take much imagination to envision that.



Hopefully, Thieves of Time, Skinwalkers, and Coyote Waits are familiar to most of you.

[Gazza]

She's on a major No. 1 tour at the moment playing Queen Mary in Crown Matrimonial (about the abdication). There's talk of a West End stint too.

[Steve Crook]

She does a lot of theatre work here. Some "straight", some musical theatre.



I saw her in a version of Candide at the Barbican a few years back. Just the performers standing up and singing their parts, not acting them out fully. Although Patricia couldn't resist a bit of business every now and then



And I saw her as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in the West End. She elegantly avoided over-stressing the "A handbag?" line to avoid comparisons with Edith Evans in the 1952 film



If you get the chance, try to find a few episodes of Victoria Wood on TV (1985-86) where Patricia appeared as Kitty, the agony aunt, propped up by a steady supply of sherry.



A very talented performer and Hyacinth Bucket is just one of the many great roles she's done.



Steve

[Dame Starry]

For me, one of her finest roles was in A Woman Of No Importance by Alan Bennett on TV but, as well as Hyacinth Bucket, I loved her as Hetty Wainthrop with, the then fairly unknown, Dominic Monaghan.



DS x.

[Maurice]

Patricia Routledge should be asked to sing Rule Britannia! at

Last Night of the Proms.

[Steve Crook]

name='Maurice']Patricia Routledge should be asked to sing Rule Britannia! at

Last Night of the Proms.

Now that would be a performance I'd love to see



Steve

[Marky B]

A versatile lady,a national treasure!

Ta Ta

Marky B

[EHV_Emmetts]

I recall seeing excerpts of her one woman show on TV a few years ago, and they were very funny - especially the opera singer sketch. The show was introduced by the late Sir Nigel Hawthorne.

[Steve Crook]

name='EHV_Emmetts']I recall seeing excerpts of her one woman show on TV a few years ago, and they were very funny - especially the opera singer sketch. The show was introduced by the late Sir Nigel Hawthorne.

Yes, she's skilful enough as a singer that she can sing badly - in the right way



Steve

[hankoler]

She should be a dame really.

[Marky B]

name='Steve Crook']Yes, she's skilful enough as a singer that she can sing badly - in the right way



Steve

Likewise,Les Dawson and Eric Morecambe with their piano playing.

Ta Ta

Marky B

[Marky B]

name='hankoler']She should be a dame really.

I agree!

Ta Ta

Marky B