Patricia Routledge richly deserves an 'artistic’ Damehood this year, says Rupert Christiansen.
Somewhere in the depths of Whitehall, a coven of civil servants is currently compiling the next list of New Year’s Honours. All very hushhush and surrounded by strict protocols, I know, but before their lucubrations are over, I want to put in a word.
The award of 'artistic’ Damehoods has been rather erratic recently. Dame Vivienne Westwood doesn’t sound right to me, nor does Dame Helen Mirren: I don’t feel that either of these outstandingly talented figures has quite the gravitas that the title embodies (Lady Vivienne or Lady Helen might suit their images better, did such a nomenclature exist). And while I think Harriet Walter is a wonderful actress and Evelyn Glennie a stunning percussionist, I think they’re really CBE sort of people.
Elevating Shirley Bassey to the club was nice for the grand old chanteuse, but how far down the showbiz road should Damehood descend? I can see Dame Joan Collins next, and then - who knows? - Dame Ann Summers, for services to bedroom entertainment.
To restore some dignity and propriety to the roll, I propose that Dame Patricia Routledge would have a more convincing ring to it. Twice this year, through a mutual friend, I have had the pleasure of meeting this peerless and tireless 82-year-old trouper, and I have come to think that she would richly deserve the accolade.
Perhaps only the Blessed Dame Judi can boast a career with a range to match hers - Dame Patricia (as I hereby dub her) has triumphed in Shakespeare at Stratford, in high comedy in the West End, and in Broadway musicals and operetta, as well as creating several monologues for Alan Bennett and two hugely popular telly icons, Hyacinth Bucket and Hetty Wainthropp.
She’s still going strong, too. Last month she was reciting the Psalms and St Mark’s Gospel as part of the National Theatre’s King James Bible cycle, and now she’s intermittently touring Admission:One Shilling, a one-woman show about the wartime pianist Myra Hess which she has devised with Piers Lane. There are still some tickets available for its next stop, at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge (01223 335184 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01223 335184 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) on 7 January.
If you think Dame P might be like Hyacinth or Hetty, you would be disappointed - she’s neither pernickety, snobbish or chintzy, but as sharp as nails, terrifically good fun, impressively open-minded and fully up to speed with what’s going on. Her Maj gave her a CBE in 2004, but I think it’s high time for an upgrade.
PS This is entirely my idea, unprompted by the lady herself.
The Telegraph
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