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Classic UK TV
The Great British Sitcom
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<blockquote data-quote="Spells &amp; Karma" data-source="post: 312029" data-attributes="member: 23"><p>Rounding off my Barkerthon is his final sitcom...</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.thcdn.com%2Fproductimg%2F0%2F600%2F600%2F61%2F8451561-1309343125-686719.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Beginning my watch with 1971's <em>The Removals Person</em> (from the anthology series Six Dates With Barker) then the first episode of <em>Clarence</em> proved an interesting experiment since they're exactly the same show. It's not all that unusual for short plays to be remade with a few tweaks, but what sets this apart is that the two lead actors have returned to the same roles. Well, near enough.</p><p></p><p>Ronnie's removals person was named "Fred" in 1971, and the supporting players - Jane Travers's nasty, snobby, self-involved employers - are played by different actors. Other than that, Episode One of <em>Clarence</em> is an almost word for word reshoot of <em>The Removals Person</em>. I did spot a few tiny changes to delivery (perhaps with a few ad libs in each of the episodes) and a racist epithet was changed to something more palatable for 1988 sensibilities. There were some minor changes to rhythms.</p><p></p><p>In both shows, Ronnie and Josephine Tewson sparkle. They've worked together numerous times and their ease with one another comes across strongly. You can tell that it's done very quickly, and it's all the better for it. It has a spontaneous, "live" feel to it, and they're very generous with one another.</p><p></p><p>The second episode of the 1988 series moves the premise organically forward by moving the characters to the countryside for a trial of living together in a cottage Jane has inherited, with her working hard to ensure there's no hanky panky (this is 1937 after all).</p><p></p><p>While <em>The Removals Person </em>was written by Hugh Leonard, <em>Clarence</em> is penned by one Bob Ferris.</p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Flogopedia%2Fimages%2Fb%2Fb7%2FClarence_title_card.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20140825072045&f=1&nofb=1" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>In reality this is one of Ronnie Barker's pen names. Surprisingly, there's a lot less of the wordplay - Spoonerisms and whatnot - that he's so good at. Instead he follows the tone set by Leonard in the original play. Ronnie's interest in vintage comedy comes across well. I believe he was a collector of Donald McGill postcards, and there is this slightly saucy undercurrent that works well with this era. But the situational stuff also owes a debt to the likes of Laurel & Hardy, and of course there's the whole Mr Magoo aspect with his myopic mishaps. It feels very true to the era with wonderful set dressings and costumes, and enough location work to make it feel expensive. I also like the watercolours that morph into real-life to establish new scenes.</p><p></p><p>There's a really nice soundtrack featuring era-appropriate songs, and Ronnie seems really aware of the pop culture of the time (an episode I watched last night had them naming their rabbits after the dwarfs in that "new" film from "the man who does Mickey Mouse" (<em>Snow White</em> was indeed released in 1937).</p><p></p><p>A particularly enjoyable aspect for me is the lengthy scenes. Some of the episodes feature only Ronnie and Josephine doing their thing together, and it's enthralling. The occasional supporting roles are cast with care and fit in perfectly. Anne Rye as the vicar's formidable wife is perfect.</p><p></p><p>I'm already two thirds of the way through the series proper. It's a shame there were only six, as this feels like a series that could have run. But at least it's available on DVD.</p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.comedy.co.uk%2Fimages%2Flibrary%2Fcomedies%2F900x450%2Fc%2Fclarence_2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Spells & Karma, post: 312029, member: 23"] Rounding off my Barkerthon is his final sitcom... [CENTER][IMG]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.thcdn.com%2Fproductimg%2F0%2F600%2F600%2F61%2F8451561-1309343125-686719.jpg&f=1&nofb=1[/IMG][/CENTER] Beginning my watch with 1971's [I]The Removals Person[/I] (from the anthology series Six Dates With Barker) then the first episode of [I]Clarence[/I] proved an interesting experiment since they're exactly the same show. It's not all that unusual for short plays to be remade with a few tweaks, but what sets this apart is that the two lead actors have returned to the same roles. Well, near enough. Ronnie's removals person was named "Fred" in 1971, and the supporting players - Jane Travers's nasty, snobby, self-involved employers - are played by different actors. Other than that, Episode One of [I]Clarence[/I] is an almost word for word reshoot of [I]The Removals Person[/I]. I did spot a few tiny changes to delivery (perhaps with a few ad libs in each of the episodes) and a racist epithet was changed to something more palatable for 1988 sensibilities. There were some minor changes to rhythms. In both shows, Ronnie and Josephine Tewson sparkle. They've worked together numerous times and their ease with one another comes across strongly. You can tell that it's done very quickly, and it's all the better for it. It has a spontaneous, "live" feel to it, and they're very generous with one another. The second episode of the 1988 series moves the premise organically forward by moving the characters to the countryside for a trial of living together in a cottage Jane has inherited, with her working hard to ensure there's no hanky panky (this is 1937 after all). While [I]The Removals Person [/I]was written by Hugh Leonard, [I]Clarence[/I] is penned by one Bob Ferris. [CENTER] [IMG]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Flogopedia%2Fimages%2Fb%2Fb7%2FClarence_title_card.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20140825072045&f=1&nofb=1[/IMG][/CENTER] In reality this is one of Ronnie Barker's pen names. Surprisingly, there's a lot less of the wordplay - Spoonerisms and whatnot - that he's so good at. Instead he follows the tone set by Leonard in the original play. Ronnie's interest in vintage comedy comes across well. I believe he was a collector of Donald McGill postcards, and there is this slightly saucy undercurrent that works well with this era. But the situational stuff also owes a debt to the likes of Laurel & Hardy, and of course there's the whole Mr Magoo aspect with his myopic mishaps. It feels very true to the era with wonderful set dressings and costumes, and enough location work to make it feel expensive. I also like the watercolours that morph into real-life to establish new scenes. There's a really nice soundtrack featuring era-appropriate songs, and Ronnie seems really aware of the pop culture of the time (an episode I watched last night had them naming their rabbits after the dwarfs in that "new" film from "the man who does Mickey Mouse" ([I]Snow White[/I] was indeed released in 1937). A particularly enjoyable aspect for me is the lengthy scenes. Some of the episodes feature only Ronnie and Josephine doing their thing together, and it's enthralling. The occasional supporting roles are cast with care and fit in perfectly. Anne Rye as the vicar's formidable wife is perfect. I'm already two thirds of the way through the series proper. It's a shame there were only six, as this feels like a series that could have run. But at least it's available on DVD. [CENTER] [IMG]https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.comedy.co.uk%2Fimages%2Flibrary%2Fcomedies%2F900x450%2Fc%2Fclarence_2.jpg&f=1&nofb=1[/IMG][/CENTER] [/QUOTE]
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