Jeeves and Wooster

On a fellow blogger's page not too long ago I saw a film clip of a show called Jeeves and Wooster. I watched that tiny snip it and and then found another user on YouTube who had episodes from all four seasons of the show and watched all of them. My mom caught me watching the show on my laptop and next thing I knew she was watching it on her laptop. A friend came over for lunch and we had her watching it too.

If you've never seen the show it stars the ever funny and delightful comedy duo of Hugh Laurie and Stephan Fry as an bumbling English gentleman and his on-top-of-things valet. Bertie Wooster is a single man living the leisurely life of the rich and famous when Jeeves comes to be his valet. Soon Bertie's family and friends ask for his help with various predicaments and he, willingly or unwillingly, schemes up fantastic things to help solve them. But it is usually Jeeves who with his cool, calm alacrity saves the day, sometimes at the expense of his employer.

If you love a good laugh and a silly look at British life pre-WWII have a look at Jeeves and Wooster, it will definitely have you saying "what ho!" instead of the ever common "hello". ;)



I guess I should also take this time to mention that I have a new blog called Rather Bookish that is dedicated to posting my writings. Currently I am posting a short story continuation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey if anyone is interested.


Mood:

Lazy

Sense and Sensibility

"His society became gradually her most exquisite enjoyment. They read, they talked, they sang together; his musical talents were considerable; and he read with all the sensibility and spirit which Edward had unfortunately wanted." - Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility

The photo above is from the BBC's Sense & Sensibility (1981) which I've always really enjoyed. It's unlike other adaptations of the same time lacking the dryness and melodrama of Emma or Persuasion or especially Northanger Abbey. It's a very good adaptation of the book and the characters are cast fairly well.

It also features a couple old English ballads that are perfect for the time period and I think they have lovely lyrics. The lyrics to the song below are quite pretty and sweet and the song was sung by Marianne and Willoughby and the tune used throughout. I've been singing it these last couple days because I have a resident named Phyllis at the Alzhiemer's home so I've been singing to her.

The Crystal Spring

Down by a crystal spring where the nightingale sing,
Most pleasant it is in season to hear the groves ring.
Down by a riverside a young captain I espied
Entreating of his true love for to be his bride.

“Dear Phyllis,” says he, “Can you fancy me?
All in your soft bowers a crown it shall be.
And you shall take no pain, I will you maintain.
My ship she's a-loaded, just come in from Spain.”

Wherever you dine there you shall dream of mine
And so sweetly in the season when you will be mine.
I do lay thee so well, I'll maintain you so fair,
As no lady in the Navy with you can compare.

If ever I prove false to my soft little girl,
May the oceans turn desert and the elements move.
For wherever I shall be I'll be constant to thee;
My heart is all over if I rove through the sea.

You can view a clip of Marianne and Willoughby singing at a page for actor Peter Woodward, the link is halfway down the page.

If you haven't seen this adaptation I encourage you to do so and tell me what you think.

Hoping you have a great sunshiny day!

Mood:

Hungry

New Header

Well, I've been posting since September, roughly four and half months, and I've just added a new header to my blog. I liked the other one well enough but the script and feel of this new one just seems more old-fashioned and it's certainly charming! ;)

The photo is taken from the newest Sense & Sensibility adaptation and features the edge of Elinor's bonnet. I'd love to know what you think of it the new look.

Not much to post tonight really. I suppose I should post the old header just for remembrance's sake.



I've been working on a scrapbook of art and poems. I had started my book with love poems and found this one apt for Valentine's Day:

Love

I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;

I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple.

Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.

You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

by Roy Croft

As I think of this poem how grateful I am that the love described in it is similar to the love that God has for us. Hope you all had a great day with the ones you love!

Mood:

Mellow

New Emma Adaptation

"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her."

A new adaptation of Emma is planned to begin filming this Spring and air in Autumn 2009 on the BBC. This four part miniseries is to be adapted by Sandy Welch of Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre, and North And South fame.

The biggest question is as to cast. The greater part of Janeites are wishing for actor Richard Armitage to play Mr. Knightley. I'm personally not sure about him. I loved him as Mr. Thornton in North & South but with his rugged accent and dark good looks he's just not my picture of Mr. Knightley. I think of Mr. Knightley as a bit homely or at least the picture of an English gentleman farmer. A man not immediately thought handsome but grows so on closer aquaintance. Not someone who you'd think would be a match for Emma.

Someone I had suggested on my favorite Jane Austen blog was soon set down as unsuitable and too young. Below are some of my suggestions for cast. Which are your favorites/suggestions?

Mr. Knightley:

Richard Armitage - not my first choice but here he is all the same.


Benedict Cummerbatch - I started really liking him in a recent Miss Marple show and was thinking of his potential as an Austen character.

Emma Woodhouse:

Carey Mulligan - loved her a Kitty Bennet and Isabella Thorpe and I'd love to see her as an Austen heroine. She has the charming smile and kind heart of Emma. I think she'd be quite lovely.


Georgia King - played Rosamond Oliver in Jane Eyre and Pet in Little Dorrit. Not sure I want another blonde Emma though.


Emma Griffiths Malin - played several similar characters to Emma and I'm not sure about her age. She played Fleur in The Forsythe Saga.

Harriet Smith:

Shauna Taylor - played Maria Thorpe in Northanger Abbey, I think based on appearance only she could play a lovely innocent Miss Smith.

Mr. Elton:

Tobias Menzies - he was great as Mr. Elliot and I'd like to see him charming other Austen ladies.

Jane Fairfax:

Emma Pierson -In Little Dorrit played she played Fanny Dorrit, a flirt and highly made up character but I just found this photo and thought she might be a good Jane Fairfax or perhaps Mrs. Elton. ;)


Amelia Warner - Loved her as Lorna Doone and wished she could have been Fanny Price instead of Frances O'Connor but perhaps she'd make a good Miss Fairfax.


Claire Foy - So beautiful as Amy Dorrit and I want to see more of her. I think she's be perfect as Jane Fairfax, it's a similar character as Little Dorrit anyway.

Miss Bates:

Julia McKenzie - too old though I fear, she'd have been perfect at a younger age.


It's actually quite hard to find suggestions, but other cast doesn't matter so much. Some fresh new faces are in order as well. Either way I can't wait to see who they cast. The script should be excellent though, if not the very words of Jane Austen then the essence of her meaning. It couldn't come soon enough for me.

Mood:

Excited

Edit to add:
I was thinking about who could play Mr. Woodhouse and I thought of the guy who played Mr. Dorrit in Little Dorrit.

Mr. Woodhouse:

Sir Tom Courtenay - he's 72 year old on the 25th but I think he'd do very well at capturing Mr. Woodhouse's pessimistic health conscious ways.

Ready For Spring

Springtime
Oh, spring came to my garden
And caught it unaware
Wearing just a few old leaves
And a dejected air.

But when spring left my garden,
Its work so deftly done,
Many, many Daffodils
Were dancing in the sun.

-Velma D. BATES.

It's been so cold lately that I've dearly been wishing for Spring. The above painting 'Nana's Garden' is by artist Daniel F Gerhartz.

I'm ashamed in not posting for quite a while. The last week and a half my Alzheimer residents have been sick with the flu and I've been working overtime for a couple co-workers who were out sick as well. Praise the Lord I was untouched by the germs, the only thing that suffered have been my hands which I've washed over 20 times a day and they're so dry!

Let's see, what have I been up to lately. What have I been...
Watching? - Cranford (for the third time and I always cry especially at Mrs. Forrester's tale of Miss Mattie in Episode 5), Roger's and Hammerstien's Cinderella, Serendipity (not period)
Reading? - love poems especially Robert Browning
Listening to? - Celtic Thunder, Celtic Women and other Irish Ballads, I'm ready for St. Paddy's Day!
Creating? - scrap book of poetry and paintings. no time for sewing but my mom found a simple skirt pattern that I hope to use soon.
Looking forward to? - the new Emma adaptation, I'll have to do a separate posting on that. ;) Also this Saturday there will be a local doll house miniatures show which my family and I usually attend. My father really enjoys the hobby and the rest of us enjoy looking at all the mini furniture and decorations.


Mood:

Cold