#Desmond Barrit

[autumncottageattic]

Northanger Abbey is a 2007 British television film adaptation of Jane Austen's 1817 novel of the same name. Felicity Jones stars as the protagonist Catherine Morland and JJ Feild plays her love interest Henry Tilney.

Part I

[moviemosaics]

A Christmas Carol

directed by David Jones, 1999

[consanguinitatum]

For One Night Only: David at the RSC Fringe Festival (oh, and one other thing he probably didn't do...)

For today's post in "obscure things David Tennant did way back when," we'll need to travel back in time to the late 1990s. It was a busy time for David. By May 1997, he'd just wrapped up his first Royal Shakespeare Company repertory season (in which he simultaneously played Touchstone in As You Like It, Jack Lane in The Herbal Bed, and Alexander Hamilton in The General From America). This set of three plays had begun their runs in Stratford in early- to mid 1996; they then transferred over to London's Barbican Theatre, where they had ended their runs by mid-1997.

Programmes for The Herbal Bed, As You Like It, and The General From America

Next on David's theatre agenda was the role of Mickey in Hurlyburly (a play I've talked about before) which ran at the Queen's Theatre in London from August to November 1997. He then performed a one-off staged reading of Derek Jarman's Blue at the Chelsea Arts Theare on 16 November 1997 (which, by the way, is another little-known DT performance I want to explore!)

That was it for 1997, theatre-wise.

Then, beginning in March of 1998 - as I've explored previously - he began his run as Moon and Brindsley Miller in The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy. This double bill ran first at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Surrey and then in London, first at the Richmond Theatre and then at the Comedy Theatre. That play finally wrapped in August 1998.

But a month before wrapping The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy, David had popped over to Stratford to do something interesting, something that's the focus of this thread. It was called For One Night Only, and - as it says on the tin - it was, indeed, for one night only!

First, though? A little history!

Around 1990, the RSC began to hold an annual summer festival called the Royal Shakespeare Company Fringe Festival. Intended as a showcase for RSC talent, it included a mix of events: short plays, devised pieces, stand-up comedy, concerts, etc., as well as new works making their Stratford debut. The festival lasted two weeks and saw actors, directors, stage managers, musicians and staff all taking part in more than 25 events. All the events were either on Sundays, or timed around RSC productions, so audiences could go see fringe shows after seeing the actors perform in their usual RSC roles.

Most of the events for 1998's festival took place in a specially adapted 100-seat rehearsal room at the RSC's 'alternative' theatre, The Other Place. But not all of them. Their opening night event - on Sunday, 19 July - was to take place at the Swan Theatre.

That opening night event? For One Night Only!

Starring Desmond Barrit, Emma Handy, and Amanda Harris as well as David, the launch event cost £4-£12 and began at 7:30 pm. It was called a "curtain raiser" as well as "aptly-named."

And just what was it about? Well, um....I know it was organized and compiled by its star, Desmond Barrit...and that it was supposed to take its audience on a journey through the theatre. These articles say so.

But that's about all I know. I wish I had more details.

I am, however, supremely lucky to own a piece of ephemera about this one night only event.

Here's the front and back of my For One Night Only flyer, and as I'm sure you'll notice, it promises "an evening of theatrical prose and poetry...and a little gossip!"

Great. Could you tell us a bit more, thanks?

While researching For One Night Only, I came across something else of interest, which I thought for a moment David might have been involved in - an event staged nine days before For One Night Only. But after researching this event in more detail, I don't think he was involved, after all. Such a shame, really. He would've been perfect!

On Friday, 10 July 1998, at 1 pm in the afternoon, some Royal Shakespeare Company members got together to do a fund raiser and preview of the upcoming Fringe in the forecourt of the Other Place. Called a Sonnetathon, this three-hour event featured various RSC members reading all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets!

Now a Sonnetathon would've been right up David's alley, am I right? He'd have loved it! But I'm about 99% certain he wasn't there - and here's why. That Friday night at 7:30 pm, David was onstage in The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy at the Comedy Theatre in London, that's why!

But here's why I say 99%. It's not impossible to imagine he got up early that Friday (after doing a show the night before) and took the train in to Stratford to do the Sonnetathon - wrapped it up by 4pm, then hopped on another train back to London in time to make the 7:30 curtain up for The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy.

But you have to admit, it seems unlikely.

But The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy wasn't showing on Sunday, 19 July 1998, so David was able to get to Stratford and go onstage as part of 'For One Night Only' to open the Fringe...and then get back to London in time to go onstage once more the following night.

So now you know what I know about For One Night Only.

Of course I'll keep looking for more!

[kwebtv]

 A Christmas Carol  -  TNT  -  December 5, 1999

A Hallmark Entertainment Production

Running Time:  95 minutes

Stars:

Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge

Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit

Joel Grey as Spirit of Christmas Past

Ian McNeice as Albert Fezziwig 

Saskia Reeves as Mrs. Cratchit

Desmond Barrit as Spirit of Christmas Present

Bernard Lloyd as Jacob Marley's Ghost

Dominic West as Fred

Trevor Peacock as Old Joe

Liz Smith as Mrs. Dilber (Charwoman)

Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs. Riggs (Laundress)

Kenny Doughty as Young Ebenezer Scrooge

Laura Fraser as Belle

Celia Imrie as Mrs. Bennett

John Franklyn-Robbins as Mister Crump (Undertaker)

Claire Slater as Martha Cratchit

Ben Tibber as Tiny Tim Cratchit

Barnaby Francis as Young Boy Cratchit

Tabitha Francis as Young Girl Cratchit

Tim Potter as Spirit of Christmas Future

Jeremy Swift as Mr. Williams

Rosie Wiggins as Fran (Scrooge's sister)

Crispin Letts as Topper Haines

Helen Coker as Betsy

[abs0luteb4stard]

W a t c h i n g

[data2364]

Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge  1999 in "A Christmas Carol"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(1999_film)

[ljones41]

"NORTHANGER ABBEY" (2007) Review

"NORTHANGER ABBEY" (2007) Review As far as I know, there have only been two screen adaptations of Jane Austen's 1817 novel, "Northanger Abbey". The first adaptation aired back in 1986. And the most recent aired on Britain's ITV network back in 2007, as part of a series of dramas called Jane Austen Season.

"NORTHANGER ABBEY" followed the misadventures of Catherine Morland, the 17 year-old daughter of a rural clergyman and Gothic novel aficianado. She is invited by her parents' wealthy friends, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, to accompany them on a visit the famous spa city, Bath. There, the friendly and somewhat naive Catherine becomes acquainted with Isabella Thorpe (who becomes engaged to her brother James), and her crude brother, John. She also befriends Eleanor Tilney and falls in love with the latter's brother, the witty and charming clergyman, Henry. The Thorpes are displeased with Catherine's friendship with the Tilneys, due to John's interest in making her his future wife. Both sister and brother assume that Catherine might become the future heir of the childless Allens. But when Catherine's relationship with the Tilneys - especially Henry - grows closer, a jealous Mr. Thorpe plays a prank by falsely informing Henry and Eleanor's father, the tyrannical General Tilney, that Catherine is an heiress. The joke leads the Tilney patriarch to invite Catherine to spend some time at the family's estate, Northanger Abbey. There, Catherine and Henry's relationship become romantic. However, between her penchant for Gothic novels, her overactive imagination and Mr. Thorpe's lie; Catherine's stay at Northanger Abbey threatens to end in disaster. My review of the 1986 version of Austen's tale made it pretty clear that I harbored a low opinion of it. Fortunately, I cannot say the same about this 2007 version. Mind you, there were aspects of it that I found troubling. As in the 1986 television movie, a castle (this time Lismore Castle in Ireland) served as Northanger Abbey. Was finding an actual estate with an abbey that difficult to find? Also, screenwriter Andrew Davies seemed determined to inject some form of overt sexuality into his recent adaptations of Austen novels. In "NORTHANGER ABBEY", he allowed the engaged Isabella Thorpe to have sex with the lecherous Captain Frederick Tilney, instead of simply flirting with him. My biggest problem with the movie turned out to be the last fifteen minutes or so. Quite frankly, I found the finale somewhat rushed. For some reason, Davies decided to exclude General Tilney's reconciliation with Catherine and Henry. Frankly, I found the movie's flaws rather minor in compare to its virtues. I thought "NORTHANGER ABBEY" was a fun and delicious soufflé that proved to be one of the most entertaining 93 minutes I have ever seen on television. It is a wonderfully funny and elegant tale about the coming-of-age of the 17 year-old Catherine Morland. Andrew Davies did a pretty good job of conveying not only the charm of Catherine, but also the personal flaws that prevented her from opening her eyes to the realities of the world. But her acquaintance with the Thorpe siblings, General Tilney's vindictiveness and Henry Tilney's practicality finally opened those eyes. Another aspect of "NORTHANGER ABBEY" that I truly enjoyed was the array of interesting characters that participated in Catherine's journey to young adulthood. And it took a cast of first-rate actors to bring these characters to life. Unlike other Austen fans, I had not been impressed by Sylvestra Le Touzel's portrayal of Fanny Price in the 1983 miniseries, "MANSFIELD PARK". Her performance as the giddy Mrs. Allen is another matter. Le Touzel gave a deliciously zany performance as Catherine's flighty and social-loving benefactress. And it is amazing how the actress' skills had improved after 24 years. Liam Cunningham made an impressive and rather foreboding General Tilney. In fact, he struck me as so intimidating that a black cloud seemed to hover about every time he appeared on the screen. William Beck, who portrayed the brutish John Thorpe, did not strike me as intimidating . . . only sinister. From a physical perspective. Yet, the moment the actor skillfully embodied the character, his Mr. Thorpe became a gauche and desperate loser who injected a "demmed" in nearly every other sentence that left his mouth. Carey Mulligan was wonderfully radiant, sexy and scheming as the manipulative Isabella Thorpe. She almost seemed like an intelligent Regency sexpot, whose lack of impulse control led to her downfall. And Catherine Walker made a charming and intelligent Eleanor Tilney. However, it seemed quite obvious to me that "NORTHANGER ABBEY" belonged to the two leads - Felicity Jones and J.J. Feild. The role of Catherine Morland proved to be Felicity Jones' first leading role as an actress. And she proved that she was more than up to the challenge. She did an excellent job of portraying Catherine's development from an innocent and over-imaginative bookworm to a slightly sadder and wiser young woman. More importantly, her chemistry with J.J. Feild literally crackled with fire. Speaking of Mr. Feild, I can honestly say that his Henry Tilney is, without a doubt, my favorite on-screen Austen hero of all time. Everything about his performance struck me as absolutely delicious - his charm, his pragmatism, his wicked wit and occasional cynicism and especially his voice. Pardon me for my shallowness, but Feild has one of the most spine-tingling voices among up and coming actors, today. I also have to commend the movie's production values. David Wilson's production designs did an excellent job of conveying viewers back to the second half of the Regency decade. He was ably assisted by Mark Lowry's art direction and Grania Preston's costume designs, which struck me as simple, yet elegant and stylish. But it was Ciarán Tanham's photography that really impressed me. The movie's colors were rich and vibrant, yet at the same time, rather elegant. Tanham's photography did much to project the movie's elegant, yet colorful style. I would never consider "NORTHANGER ABBEY" as one of the heavy-hitting Jane Austen adaptations. But it has such an elegant, yet witty aura about it that I cannot help but enjoy it very much. I was also impressed by Andrew Davies' development of the Catherine Morland character, which lead actress Felicity Jones did a great job of transferring to the screen. "NORTHANGER ABBEY" is, without a doubt, one of the most likable Jane Austen adaptation I have ever seen, hands down.

[midsomerrhapsody]

Midsomer Murders, Episode - They Seek Him Here

Raymond: Appropriate, really...The Scarlet Pimpernel. "It's a far, far better thing I do..."

DS Ben Jones: That's A Tale Of Two Cities.

Raymond: Is it? Typical of my life. I'm in someone else's story again.

[aion-rsa]

Endeavour’s Best Guest Cast

https://ift.tt/3iGhYqy

Warning: contains spoilers for Endeavour series 1-8.

Love them as we do, a great episode of Endeavour isn’t only down to the central pillars of Morse, Thursday, DeBryn, Bright and Strange. It also takes memorable turns from the host of actors playing one-time characters who leave their own indelible mark on the detective drama. After ruthlessly whittling down the possible choices to a mere handful (there are so many to choose from that the true villains deserve a list all to themselves), here are some of Endeavour’s most memorable guest stars. Tell us who tops your list below.

Sheila Hancock as Dowsable Chattox in ‘Harvest’ (Series 4, Episode 4)

To mark the thirtieth anniversary of John Thaw’s first television appearance as Inspector Morse, Endeavour paid wonderful tribute by inviting Thaw’s widow Dame Sheila Hancock into the cast of ‘Harvest’ (which of course also featured one of several appearances by Abigail Thaw as regular character Dorothea Frazil). Hancock played wise woman Dowsable Chattox, a mystic whose remote cottage was the only thing standing in the way of the local valley being flooded in the name of progress. Her character would have been memorable for the name alone (‘Dowsabel’ is used in Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors,and derives from ‘douce et belle’, the French for ‘sweet and beautiful’, while Chattox is perhaps inspired by a surname in the famous Pendle Witch Trials) but Hancock’s performance as the tarot-reader, and the context, is what made it truly special.

Phil Daniels as Charlie Thursday in ‘Cartouche’ and ‘Icarus’ (Series 5, Episodes 2 & 6)

Strictly not a one-time-only character as Charlie Thursday appears in two episodes, but who could forget Phil Daniels’ turn as Fred’s ne’er-do-well brother? Yes, he’s a scoundrel who put Fred and Win’s marriage into difficult straits when he lost their life savings, but fans do have something to thank Charlie for – stopping DCI Thursday from hanging his Winchester over the fireplace and taking retirement in series five. All that upset was almost worth it just for the comedic tension of cheeky parvenu warehouse owner Charlie talking the hind leg off ‘Reg’ Bright with undue familiarity at Chez Andre while Fred’s face turned increasingly red. Marvellous.

Desmond Barrit as Stephen Fitzowen in ‘Nocturne’ (Series 2, Episode 2)

Oh, the joy of a classic Morse/Endeavour player! Great delivery, plenty of dramatic flair, a good old-fashioned look complete with demi-lunettes and smoking jacket, and presence–you get it all from Desmond Barrit as “connoisseur of the macabre” Stephen Fitzowen. The lurid true crime writer who puts on the magic lantern show in ‘Nocturne’ is such a fun character that he even gets a nod of the trilby in Series 8 finale ‘Terminus’, when the young student on the No. 33 bus is seen reading one of his sensationalist murderer books.

Read more

TV

Endeavour Theory: Has Morse Already Crossed Paths With Nemesis Hugo de Vries?

By Louisa Mellor

TV

Endeavour: Saluting the Wit and Constancy of Dr Max DeBryn

By Louisa Mellor

Alison Newman as Viv Wall in ‘Deguello’, ‘Apollo’ and ‘Pylon’ (Series 6, Episodes 1,2, 4)

Another slight bend of our own rules as Viv Wall is a returning character rather than a one-off, but she’s had less cumulative screen time than many others on this list and few of them make the same impact. A redoubtable woman played by the brilliant Alison Newman, Viv is Joan Thursday’s boss and inspiration at the Welfare, where she does important work and takes no prisoners. Viv’s scared of nobody, puts scoundrels like Ronnie Box in their place, and has an enviable way with a threat (“Little girls who squeak out of turn are liable to find themselves over my knee.”). One “Oy!” from her and we’d all stand to attention.

Mark Heap as Felix Lorimer in ‘Coda’ (Series 3, Episode 4)

Endeavour’s former Lonsdale College tutor Dr Lorimer is of course memorable for Mark Heap’s wonderful performance, but also because of the insight the character gave into Morse’s past. Until Lorimer’s criminal scheme was unveiled, he was a gateway to a period in Endeavour’s life that’s long sparked fans’ curiosity. Why didn’t this bright young man earn his Oxford degree? What was the story with Susan, the “brown-eyed blonde” who broke his heart? Felix knows, and his own romantic streak meant that he never forgot Morse’s youthful affair with the “angel crossing Carfax”. If only he hadn’t used that insight to try to implicate his ex-student in a dastardly scheme, then Lorimer could have been quite likeable. His last words as he was led away in cuffs, peeled from the lips of his paramour were, “Love, Morse. Imagine that.” Imagine indeed.

Cécile Paoli as Luisa in ‘Sway’ (Series 2, Episode 3)

Mi amore, Fredo Giovedi! Fred and Win’s silver wedding anniversary celebrations in series two’s ‘Sway‘ became bittersweet for Fred with the reappearance of a ghost from his past. Fred and Luisa met as youngsters when he was serving in Italy in World War II. They fell in love, but her village came under attack by German soldiers who shot her and her sister, while Fred was forced to watch from afar. He locked her photograph away and carried his secret grief until a case threw her unexpectedly into his path. Luisa had survived, then been rescued, married and widowed by a British major, and now lived alone in Oxford working as a saleswoman in Burridge’s Department Store. Cécile Paoli played Luisa’s glamorous melancholy beautifully, and thanks to her, the story of this war casualty who “died of wounds” unfurled with real pathos.

Donald Sumpter as Emil Valdemar in ‘Cartouche’ (Series 5, Episode 2)

Few actors can match Donald Sumpter’s screen presence, which is what made him the perfect casting as exotically titled film star Emil Valdemar (a stage name) in series two’s ‘Cartouche’. Valdemar was the remaining star of ‘The Pharaoh’s Curse’, a production steeped in bad luck whose cast and crew had been picked off over the years by various unlucky fates. When the flick is re-run at Oxford’s Roxy, Endeavour goes along and so begins a colourful story of revenge and murder. Sumpter’s the quintessential guest star here – not on screen a lot, but when he is, you can’t take your eyes off him. Magnificent.

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Endeavour is available to stream on ITV Hub and Britbox.

The post Endeavour’s Best Guest Cast appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3Hfa6XN

[dailymidsomermurders]

Desmond Barrit as Raymond Clandillon in Midsomer Murders Season 10, Episode 7: They Seek Him Here

[thestageyshelf]

SOLD 🎭 Apologia @ Trafalgar Studios 2017 (#179)

Title: Apologia

Venue: Trafalgar Studios

Year: 2017

Condition: Wear to edges

Author: Alexi Kaye Campbell

Director: Jamie Lloyd

Cast: Stockard Channing, Freema Agyeman, Desmond Barrit, Laura Carmichael, Joseph Millson, Isaura Barbe-Brown, Jeremy Bennett, John McClarnon, Lynn Robertson Hay

FIND ON EBAY HERE

[ladylipt]

Desmond Barrit as Mr. Allen in Northanger Abbey (2007) #janeausten #janeaustenfan #janeite #austenite #austenland #love #novel #novels #books #book #bookstagram #bookish #movie #movies #regency #sweetromance #regencyromance #instagood #instadaily #photooftheday #picoftheday #portugal #england #perioddrama #northangerabbey

[ohyesitiz-blog-blog]

Mother Goose Traditional Family Pantomime 8th December 2021 - 2nd January 2022 Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, Pier Gardens, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR31 6PP Book tickets here Call the box office: 01493 662832

Pantomime is back on stage and what better time to round up the family and join in the good old British tradition at Christmas time. Join Mother Goose and her new friend Priscilla in the quest for true happiness; dancing around greed, good and evil, wholesome gags and… golden eggs! Mother Goose is the most classic tale of rags to riches with all the ingredients of a great pantomime adventure including magic, romance, comedy and song all wrapped up in this year’s egg-stra special spectacular featuring colourful costumes and a talented cast. Like previous years, the show comes from the big heart of panto King (and did we mention Olivier award-winning actor?) Desmond Barrit. With award-winning actor Desmond Barrit and renowned broadcaster and presenter Helen McDermott at the helm, OhYesItIz prides itself on the values of tradition and quality when it comes to pantomime. “We should count our blessings that we’ve got something  of such high quality on the coast.” BBC’s Tony Mallion on an OhYesItIz pantomime

[stephaniegrayme-blog]

08-10 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: Simon Callow and Desmond Barrit attend the press night after party for 'Apologia' at the Haymarket Hotel on August 3, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. ... http://dlvr.it/Pd0K6S

[hippasilla]

endeavour meme: favorite quotes [3/5]

[data2364]

Patrick Stewart  as   Ebenezer Scrooge  1999  in “A Christmas Carol”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol_(1999_film)