If you’re expecting my annual rant about the Americanisation and ridiculous commercialism of the ancient festival of All Hallows Eve – AKA Halloween – you’ll be disappointed.
Although . . . if our current situation has put the kibosh on this year’s ‘Trick Or Treat’ ritual – AKA “Give us some sweets or your car bodywork will get an eggshell finish” – I wouldn’t be disappointed.
I’m not someone who knocks on strangers’ doors to indulge in (what should be) the criminal act of demanding confectionery with menaces.
No, dear readers, this year I’m keeping my opinions to myself about the millions spent by financially-stretched parents on the ‘spooky’ tat supermarkets have stocked since August. I bet you’re relieved.
This week, the reviews I’ve read of a new book of hilarious theatrical anecdotes complied by Gyles Brandreth made me laugh out loud.
So I thought I’d try to put a smile on your faces by recalling an allegedly true theatrical anecdote I heard years ago.
Sir Donald Wolfit was an actor-manager who achieved great success on stage, in film and on TV. In the 1950s he toured the provinces with his own company of raggle-taggle actors, performing Shakespeare’s plays. He saw it as ‘Taking culture to the masses’.
If you’ve seen the film “The Dresser” you’ll have a good idea just how hammy Wolfit’s acting could be, as Albert Finney’s character ‘Sir’ was Wolfit in all but name.
One wet Monday night in Huddersfield, the curtain had just come down on a performance of ‘King Lear’ at the local theatre, with Sir Donald in the title role.
As he ‘staggered’ back on stage, seemingly exhausted, he thanked the audience for their kind indulgence, before announcing . . .
“Ladies and Gentlemen, from Thursday there will be a change of programme. We shall be presenting “Macbeth” by the immortal Bard. Your humble servant will be playing the title role and my wife, Lady Wolfit, will be playing the role of Lady Macbeth.”
When a male voice from the stalls rudely shouted “Lady Wolfit is an ugly old trout!”, Sir Donald immediately responded . . .
“Nevertheless . . . she will be playing the role of Lady Macbeth!”