I just stumbled upon these soliloquies and do enjoy them. I’ve only know her as “Mrs. Hyacinth Bouquet (often correcting those pronouncing is at “Bucket.”) Seeing her in dramatic role without supporting actors truly measures and illuminates how dynamic of a performer that she was.
The way she paces her performance is truly masterful. British actors know how to measure their performances so well, and how to use their voices. And by the dozens! In America, we have maybe Holland Taylor or Kathy Bates as screen actresses that could do something like this, and still not as well.
People just want to matter to someone, to their parents, their teachers, friends, employers, their children. They want their lives to mean something. This is not ego, this is human. This is not misplaced self-importance. Very poignant.
Chilling performance. My mother "adopted" one of her older coworkers years ago. He had no family, other than an older sister in another state. My kids treated him like an extra grandpa, and he went on road trips with us sometimes. He ended up in a nursing home due to medical error, and my parents, sisters, and I would bring him treats, take him out for breakfast or lunch, and just go visit him. When he passed away, nobody called us. My mom found out 3 days later when the funeral home called her (she was his POA by then), and wanted to know why no one was contacting them to arrange his funeral. It turned out the funeral home had a new owner and wouldn't honor his pre-paid funeral plans from the last owner, so he ended up getting cremated. There was no one left to come to a service except our immediate family, so there wasn't one. My mom has his urn so he's still with our family, and I volunteered to take him when her time comes. Honestly, we've thought of burying him with her. I've heard of urns ending up in thrift stores, and that's even sadder than dying alone. 😢
This is so moving and a reminder for me to check up on my elderly neighbors who live alone. Thank you for your thoughtfulness it will help me to spring into action and friendship. I used to bring them food during the pandemic and did so after but have tapered off. Time to get out the soup pot and cook. Thanks so much, form California.
She observes everyone and notices the smallest details about them, but no one takes notice of her. Surrounded by people but so lonely. Any interaction, no matter how mundane makes her feel important. Even a fly buzzing around her head is seen as an positive interaction. A tragic story, beautifully told.
She does an extraordinary job of portraying narcissistic psychopathology, so delusionally grandiose that she perceives the fly as having somehow found her "special" among all those other patients in the ward....completely unaware that it's a sign she's at death's door and the fly is just waiting to lay its eggs on her.
@@le_th_Seems like you missed the writing and the intentional subtext there… If anything you’re grandiose in imagining that you’re the only one to read that second meaning into it, rather than the writers having intended something there.
I really didn't feel frightened or sad during my cancer experience but now, some years later, it's astonishing how much anxiety my body remembers watching this woman go through it.
@@lawsonj39 Without delivery and timing, the most beautifully crafted language in the world is just words, words, words. The human voice infuses the text with the deeper shades of meaning.
I think this is most of us. The slow descent from being ‘alive’ to getting frail, more and more people ignore and rush by us, never dropping to just say hello as our world shrinks more and more. That’s why I watch this having just turned 56 and can not only see myself but see my parents and before that my grandparents. Very poignant.
I'm dreading it man. We do get forgotten once we can't keep up. I'm crippled already, and when my daughter moves out and moves on I have no idea what I'm going to do. I can't get out and do stuff, I'm literally unable already. I just praise God he blessed me with liking to be alone. I'm not scared or lonely when alone. I couldn't imagine if I was scared to be alone or couldn't stand it. I'm sure im.going to find out what lonely is when my daughter moves on. I have ONE YEAR LEFT until 18. I'm petrified
Thank you for posting this. Dame Patricia Routledge was absolutely BRILLIANT in this, and her portrayal of a single woman with no family (except an estranged father) who was dying was very realistic. The cinematography was simple but it helped tell the story of her decline, up until the final image. If she didn’t win an award for this performance, she should have.
This is gut-wrenching writing and acting. The dialogue is so mundane but really crackles with emotion in Patricia Routledge’s capable hands. I’ve watched this a dozen times and cried a little each time. Alan Bennett is a genius. What an amazing series! Bravo, brava!
First time I ever saw her was in Keeping Up Appearances. At that time I had no idea of who she was and what she'd done. I thought KUA was spectacular, and then the local public broadcasting station aired "Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet," played by Ms. Routledge. I was completely transfixed at how utterly distinguishable her character Ms. Fozzard was to that of Hyacinth. How she captivated and enchanted me throughout that monologue was enormously impacting. In this, you can get a real sense of her love and deep respect for the power of language. She is truly a woman with a thousand faces. She can play any part she puts her mind to. My only regret with Dame Patricia is that she has never done any action thrillers.
@@samanthaherschell6010 You're asking about "the woman of no importance"? It's not stated explicitly we each have to deduce what's going on from what we hear, which is, of course one of the many reasons for the piece's superbly brilliant poignancy. But it was almost certainly of some type of cancer, since she was examined and then sent for allegedly exploratory surgery. To no avail. since she does not mention further surgery, merely being taken down for her "treatment" by the cheerful hospital porters. And, of course, the episodes take place over time, and it is clear from what she says about herself and the attitude of both nurses and her few visitors that her health is deteriorating and she is dying. In the video, we are left with the sad image of the empty bed, but it is superfluous, really - the piece works superbly, even if you merely listen, with no video (as I did until the end.) I'm posting this in August 2021 and, as far as I know, the actress who played her, Dame Patricia Routledge, though elderly, is still going strong. :-) As recently, 2020, she was interviewed at Chichester Cathedral in an event held to raise funds for the roof appeal, of which she is patron. www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/news/dame-patricia-routledge-raises-funds-chichester-cathedral
I just can't get over this performance. It's like every time I watch this, I want to bathe in it even more. She's fantastic. There's not a false moment in the whole soliloquy.
It was mentioning the days she felt fine and the knitted bedcoat for me. Once tight but then fit just right? My heart broke. Took me right back to my dad, once a 6ft2 robust trucker and preacher reduced to almost nothing as well as my mum, teacher so full of life, diagnosed on Monday then gone on Wednesday morning.
The marriage of Alan Bennett's writing and the delivery of Patricia Routledge is truly a work of art. "She laughed" so poignant, so sad, so beautifully delivered. Thank you both for the pleasure of this.
Patricia Routhledge the best ever. she is so delicate and subtle in her expressions. i don't think any other actress could have pulled that off on such a high level. i really love to watch her, she also resembles my grandmother or my grandmother her, in temper and even looks, particular in her hairstyle. and of course, it also must be mentioned, that play is a great piece of observation and insight, great work by Bennett.
Yes…. Once again …. Stunning performance. When you have some quiet time, please watch this. I am a cancer patient, Thank God my last treatment will be this Wednesday…. And it does look positive to me and I feel grateful to Him. For Patricia Rutledge to perform this one woman act is ( watching a real actress) such incredible work. Bravo Patricia!!! A+++++ work!!! I am going to watch it right now again, but your performance took me right into that world!! Eveyone…. I’m going to be ok with what I’ve been going theough. You never know what’s around that corner. God Bless you guys.
I am weeping after have watched this at least 6 times. This is life folks. We will all see this at some point. I hope when it is my time there will be someone there who will "laugh" with me.
Very impressive! It must be so hard to memorize all those lines and say them back with such conviction. She makes it look so effortless and believable.
The continuing heartbreak of a philandering father... The learned avoidance of pain, both past and present.. The magnification of the minific.. And the relishing of small joys, (the only safe form of intimacy) encapsulated in two words... We LAUGHED... (pause) SPECTACULAR Writing, SUPERB Performance.
This is one of the most profound monologues that I've seen and Patricia made it even better. This was done flawlessly word after word. To each his own but this is very deep and serves as a point of epiphany...coming to the realization that life is not promised but whilst you still have it, make the most of it. Wow!!!! I'm pretty much lost for words.
What's amazing about her is she's clearly reeling off a long, well written script but she is so effortless and makes it so real and like she's just talking to family or friends!
***** This reminds me a lot of the American play Wit. There's a movie of it with Emma Thompson. Its about an English professor dying of ovarian cancer. Less mystery and not as upbeat but it too uses the tool of second person narration along with exceptional writing and an eloquent performance by an amazing English actress.
I worked in this kind of office environment for 20 years before I had to quit to take care of my mother. It’s amazing how much truth is in this performance, even 40 years later!
Miss Scofield looked and sounded exactly as my mother did... my mother was 58 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. She lasted less than a year... enduring terribly painful surgeries and long, awful stints in hospital. Watching this masterful performance by Patricia Routledge just brought all of those vivid memories back. Words cannot describe how incredible she was. I had never even heard of this monologue before... but it's the most relatable work of art I've ever seen.
Yes people will never know what goes through their minds. Knowing they are living their last days and looking at everything, often mentally reminiscing about their childhood or happy holidays. The best thing to do is always be there holding their hands - they deserve it - as they were three holding your hand when you were born.
This is such a realistic portrait of death by cancer and loneliness. I worked in a leukaemia unit. This is so sad, I saw patients pass away after months with out a single visitor. Heart breaking performance by Patricia Routledge.
@@heliotrope3345 When I was young, families lived near one another -- often on the same street. When someone was dying, there was a lot of gathering around. I found family life stifling. Now, my immediate family is scattered over the U.S. As I age, I see the value of the old ways.
There is no other word to describe this monologue other than excellent. Bennett writes the words so well, Routledge delivers them so effortlessly, and it's a perfect combination.
I was a young thing when I first saw this on t.v. It made a great impression. This is still my dream kind of television. Such a shame it no longer exists. Not even Sky Arts show anything of this caliber.
What a great production. You can see where Victoria Wood got her "Kitty" character from! You think you're the centre of everything when things are going well, but when the chips are down you're suddenly very much on your own.
@Sonja thanks for your insight; after thinking a bit more about it i also feel it might represent how she realises the seriousness of her situation and isn't trying to be agreeable anymore, she wishes everyone would stop pretending everything is okay when it really isn't...
Katherine, it must be a matter of perspective, because for me, I look at it like she makes the most of life and her very existence, while living in joy thru her solitude. recounting her happy memories in naivete'.
I always looked at that as similar to when someone says "how funny" to a statement they actually don't find amusing at all. A filler, if you will, to make the speaker feel important for just a moment; even when they don't particularly return the favor. Miss Scofield doesn't seem to recognize the sarcastic, avoiding and patronizing tones that are directed at her for her efforts.
I am flabbergasted. How she procedes by slight touches of colour to give life to that declining woman is the work of a great actress. How everything falls apart around her and how she keeps up is so in line with that woman who had a mediocre life but clung to her illusions to hide that fact is heartwrenching......
Reminds me of my Mom. Pattering on about the minutia of petty things related to other people, and bragging about tiny perceived achievements right up until her last breath.
Patricia Routledge has always been a marvellous actress. Most people know her for Hyacinth Bucket, but she was well known long before that. She is amazing. This part was so well played. Alan Bennett writes some hilariously funny stuff and then some unbelievably sad and poignant stuff too.
This was ground breaking work in 1982. Even Patricia Routledge was not sure it would work and thought twice about taking it on. Truly great writing. Amazing vocal variety from Miss Routledge - every inflection so natural and yet so finely judged. Stunning!
+Tenortalker To be honest with you, it is astonishing even now. Routledge and the writer are beyond compare. This amazing woman is still with us, and still performing. I knew nothing about her until I started watching "Hetty Winthrop..." about three years ago on a recommendation. She absolutely took my breath away.
+Le Kre Yes she lives in Chichester and often takes roles in the theatre there. She also used to sing in the 'extra choir' of Chichester Cathedral I believe just for the pleasure of singing. She is now in her mid eighties. She also endows a prize for the Association of English Singers and Speakers competition.
Came upon this watching other Patricia videos. Thought i might watch a few minutes and finish the rest later. Well what can i say, completely hooked from the first few minutes i stayed and watched it all. Absolutely amazing actress!!
the more that you watch this film, the more outstanding it seems. the writing flawless, the acting, well...beyond anything, anyone of the current "celebrity" actresses could produce. wonderful.
The sad part is that those women (those men as well) are everywhere but we don't see them , we don't notice them 'the clue is in the title) and most of them would not recognize themselves if they watched this . This is not even a caricature of people, this is an actual blue print of people but with the mastery of Patricia Routledge , showing us exactly how and who they are when we take a minute to pay attention to and get a closer look at the ones we think of as people of no importance . This script is a masterpiece , and it is played by a maestra. .
Maybe because I enjoy life in seclusion more or less, I didn't see her as lonely, but rather, just one who makes the most of her surroundings, and enjoys whatever it is, the laughs, the trees, the people, and all.
Yes, Morgan, I find it true for myself, while yet, into every life a little rain must fall...I call those times....challenges, and all-in-all, life is quite blissful, in the regards I surmised.. Blessings.
Sometimes in my more suicidal moments, it helps to recognise myself as someone of no importance. A few people might be sad, but the universe will never notice. In fact, it will probably feel lighter. And all the things that live in my heart will die with me, so they won’t be missed either. My ideal is still to disappear from people’s memories even before I go. But that’s not exactly possible.
This is what I am becoming after raising kids on my own and now empty nest. My thoughts go everywhere and I can't find purpose, true friends or my energetic self
If an extraterrestrial descended upon planet earth and saw this performance, he/she/it would understand what it is to be "human." This actress captures all the quirks of human nature that we recognize so easily. Bravo!
I actually like her. It’s an older person whose world is getting smaller and smaller and therefore over focuses on tiny small things that make their day. I’ve seen so many old people like this. First they can’t drive and have to give up a car, the. Can’t get out as much and children often ignore old parents except of course, when they have their hands out for money or the will.
@@xr6lad And some of us never learned to drive, never had children, and family has died or simply drifted on. You end up alone, so you learn to be your own company. You focus on the small things because that's all there is left. At least when I die there will be no one to be hurt by my passing. I have friends, but I'm sure that a week after I'm gone my memory will have faded.
I must have watched this ten times now, and I never get bored of it. I keep picking up little details, like how the young doctor is subtly trying to inquire as to her next of kin, and how she is a little bit in love with Mr Skidmore. Someone's already covered the flaws in her character, so I'll say that having been in a situation where I was the only person who didn't know that I was dying (obviously I eventually recovered, unlike poor Peggy), I identify with a lot of the things she tells us. And Patricia Routledge's performance is just masterful. She pulls this off perfectly and breaks my heart for this sad, lonely woman every time.
Merocet I was in the same situation but was unconscious & so had no idea. The doctor later told me, having recovered from my waking up rather brightly after a night I wasn't going to get through alive (w septicaemia), that the fact I THOUGHT I was going to survive was perhaps what saved me. He couldn't give me any medical reason why I did. I was 35. You?
He wasn't trying to "inquire as to her next of kin" - he was inquiring into her family and socio-support structure to see if there were any possible contributors to her condition.
My grandmother was just like this character. She could sit there and tell you stories like these ones for a good 30 mins and never look at you once in the face or stop to see if you were still listening. She was so engrossed in her own little world. She was English and had very similar facial expressions as Ms. Routledge......this was so fabulous to watch. I dont know how she remembers all these lines
She remembers the lines because it's so well written. Alan Bennett had a superb ear for dialogue. He didnt write literary stuff no-one would say in real life. He wrote stuff people really do say but poetisised it with the phrasing and juxtaposition of states of mood. If you get hold of a text , read it aloud, using that accent you will be amazed how much sticks. Jo Orton's plays are similar in that they are incredibly easy to remember whereas you have to work a bit harder with Tom Stoppard or Peter Schaffer even though they are great playwrights. They are just one step removed from everyday speech. Whereas GBS and Noel Coward are more mannered . I am not ranking in order of merit just the order of ease of memorizing.
@Anon Girl I concur with you my friend. However I will interject that, after surrendering our lives to Jesus, repenting and accepting the gift of salvation, we do have a part in the covenant relationship. We cannot ''practice'' sin as a lifestyle. Unrepentant, ongoing sin does separate us from our HOLY God.
For all those rightly espousing the brilliant writing of this piece the following information might be useful. The author is Alan Bennett who is one of the best writers to ever come out of Yorkshire or perhaps England. His style is poignant and always slow but studied build of the story. He has also written other pieces under the heading of 'Talking Heads', all monologues like this, starring himself as well as a who's who of british actors Maggie Smith, Patricia Routledge, Eileen Atkins, Julie Walters, Penelope Wilton, David Haig, Thora Hird, Stephanie Cole. My favourites of these are 'Bed Among the Lentils' 'Lady of letters' and 'Finger of God' He has written many award winning plays such as "History Boys" and also the oscar winning movie "The Madness of King George" I devour anything he produces. Some trivia that you also might find interesting is that the play he wrote called the 'The Lady in the Van' is actually based on a true story of an eccentric vagabond lady who was parked up in his front yard for over 15 years.
I second what Martin Latham has written here. And for those who don't already know, since he posted, the play "The Lady in the Van" has been made into a successful film, starring Maggie Smith as the title character. It's now available on DVD and probably on some streaming services.
Strangely comforting, powerful and sad, all at the same time. Patricia is such an excellent actress and so entertaining to watch. I just wish people would enjoy her performance and not feel obligated to down-talk others. It sort of puts a negative taint on a compliment to badmouth someone else. You never really hear the actors running each other down...can't we do the same?
This performance is so spot on!! How significant and vital every minute of our lives are when we're young and in good health. Then as we age and things start to break down we get passed by and overlooked more and more until we're no longer important to much of anybody. We all get old - let's try and remember to take time with our elders and have some compassion.
Even as Hyathince she had a light within her. Her friends and family thought her hard to bear, but truth be told they were attracted to her inner light and her enthusiasm for life. She filled a need in them. This character has her same inner light and brightness, which attracts us to her.
So sad ,how many people are in this same position,friends but not close enough to be there in your darkest hours,noticed aittle of hyacinth in the early parts,wonderful performance ❤
I've never seen this before, but I've watched it twice now - an absolutely compelling performance. It has had the most profound effect on me in a way that no other piece of acting has. The thing is, in my life now and in the past, I know or knew so many people like her. There are more people in our society like this than we care to see or admit. Loneliness is certainly a key theme and the main elements are here in this character, the fact that she is of mature years and unmarried; that her circle of "friends" and "associates" derive from her mandated environment - work or the hospital. But you can be married with a brood of children and be in a packed football stadium yet be lonely. I desperately want to believe the character didn't die in the end and that, as someone says below, the mystery illness was a metaphor for her loneliness. The two parts of this performance that hit me the most were when, after her first appointment with the specialist, she sat in the square before getting the bus and admired the trees. The second are when she was in the hospital looking out the window from her chair commenting on the comings and goings - where she turns to the camera and says that she is worried about her dad. These two things show to me that despite, what the outside part of her character might show, she is just human, like everyone else....
globaltraveller very well said.I thought I was odd watching it almost every day before my own stay in the hospital. I realized before hand that we come and go everywhere in life.We all have our own little delusions. I grew to love her character the more that was revealed to me each time I watched. Actually ,It always leaves me quite sad.It's also the peripheral characters unseen. It's life with no comic relief.Adding to the 2 comments that grabbed your attention, such as I wonder how my dad is. The part where she says I wish they wouldn't laugh, there shouldn't be laughing. I wrote a poem just on that alone. At that time life's games were over and we see Peggy feeling mortality.
globaltraveller “compelling”is the perfect word. Ive watched this twice and listened to it many times as i work about the house. It is cerebral and i like that.
@Sonja my favourite was always Bed Among the Lentils but as I have gotten older, each time I watch these, I have a different favourite. Alan Bennett is a master.
A very poignant piece superbly written & delivered by the old guard of entertainment. A fantastic piece of English theatre! Sadly work of this quality is no longer produced & broadcast over the airways! Patricia Routledge plays the part here of a woman full of her own importance & superiority, even to the point that she refuses to admit she's terminally ill & is relentless to the end! Good old English stiff upper lip!
i absolutely love this. she is such a great actress, the way she savours every syllable and packs so much emotion into every trivial detail. i love alan bennet's style. it's so original and distinctive. mundane things written with such profound emphasis and loving detail. feel inspired. it makes me want to pick up a pen and write.
What gets me about this is how Miss Schofield's catch phrase, " We Laughed" gets more and more sporadic as the piece moves to its conclusion. Bennett is a genius and his economy of words is masterful, both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Alan Bennett hails from Leeds ( as do I) and how he has distilled the speech mannerisms of these northern women of a certain age ( women I grew up listening to) , right down to the semi mouthing of the word Bowel is brilliant When an actor hitscthe public consciousness with one particular role that catapults them to greater fame such as Patricia Routledge's comedy masterclass portrayal of Hyacinth (Bucket) Bouquet, people forget the body of work behind them (See Miriam Margloyes re Harry Potter). Routledge has appeared on Broadway, worked with Leonard Bernstein, sung opera and appeared in screen in many gems throughout her glittering carreer. Check out her collaborations with Victoria Wood and the other work she has done with Bennett, it's rich pickings.
Brilliant. We are all getting by. She is so happy with the small things, and that is so very important. It's the difference between a good life and a bad life. Seek happiness in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Always look forward to the next adventure. It's the only way to live.
So much comes to light about this woman and all the while we feel what's underneath all the words, the decline and eventual end of a life. Patricia Routledge is an outstanding performer.
It is also refreshing to just enjoy with no laugh track. Something like this is usually done in front of a live audience. But it's brilliant, and so is she, and I don't need a fake laugh or recorded emotions to let me know I'm watching genius.
What an actress! Im her biggest fan! God bless you Dame. I thank you for getting me through wrough times..😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I am... A woman of no importance. But I am a Mrs. and a Mother. What a performance Dame Patricia.. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!. I know you will never see my post but I send it out to God.. I love you so much..
The writing and acting are amazing. Miss Scofield is a nice person but lonely, so lonely. Listening to her talk is heartbreaking. She’s such a nonentity
She's what us younger dorks call an NPC or non-playable character. Couldn't watch all of it going on and on about other people... sort of irritating. Skipped toward the end. Sad :(
@@jmitterii2 Too bad you skipped over most of the video. The beginning and the end mean nothing at all unless you see and listen to the main part. It's not about the beginning and the end. It's about the journey of this woman's life. By going "on and on about other people" is an important part of this story. It's not to introduce these characters to us, instead, it tells us a great deal about the woman herself, who she is, what her thoughts of others and herself are, how she imagines herself to be perceived by others. We would have no idea who this woman is if she didn't talk about other people. There's no big fanfare or climax at the end, just a culmination of her life. You must watch the entire video and give some thought to the script, if you are interested in observing life's cycles. You count yourself in as a "younger dork", that's too bad. Don't be one. Don't always look for the self-gratifying, fast action, fireworks ending, stories. Take time to look at the reality of our existence.
@@jmitterii2somewhat ironic as with most younger people it is all about themselves as that’s what they’ve always been told is the most important person.
That was an acting master class. She is simply the gold standard. Moment, by moment, by moment….fully. 🙏🎭❤️
I just stumbled upon these soliloquies and do enjoy them. I’ve only know her as “Mrs. Hyacinth Bouquet (often correcting those pronouncing is at “Bucket.”) Seeing her in dramatic role without supporting actors truly measures and illuminates how dynamic of a performer that she was.
The way she paces her performance is truly masterful. British actors know how to measure their performances so well, and how to use their voices. And by the dozens! In America, we have maybe Holland Taylor or Kathy Bates as screen actresses that could do something like this, and still not as well.
Heartbreaking and well acted.
Those of us who live “lives of quiet desperation” can relate.
Dame Patricia Routledge....
A master of her craft and all around great person. One of my favourites.💕🌻
I absolutely adore Dame Patricia Routledge. This is devastatingly beautiful and sad. I treasure her immensely.
I had no idea she was honoured, but I think she deserved it.
I too adore this woman.
you two really have to listen to "ladies of letters" absolutely briliant. their insults are hysterical
@@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo Will do! Thanks for the recommendation.
Not too far from how Hyacinth Bucket might pass away.
People just want to matter to someone, to their parents, their teachers, friends, employers, their children. They want their lives to mean something. This is not ego, this is human. This is not misplaced self-importance. Very poignant.
So true🥲
You're a good person.
Yeah, that's so true... it's so so true.
True
Chilling performance. My mother "adopted" one of her older coworkers years ago. He had no family, other than an older sister in another state. My kids treated him like an extra grandpa, and he went on road trips with us sometimes. He ended up in a nursing home due to medical error, and my parents, sisters, and I would bring him treats, take him out for breakfast or lunch, and just go visit him. When he passed away, nobody called us. My mom found out 3 days later when the funeral home called her (she was his POA by then), and wanted to know why no one was contacting them to arrange his funeral. It turned out the funeral home had a new owner and wouldn't honor his pre-paid funeral plans from the last owner, so he ended up getting cremated. There was no one left to come to a service except our immediate family, so there wasn't one. My mom has his urn so he's still with our family, and I volunteered to take him when her time comes. Honestly, we've thought of burying him with her. I've heard of urns ending up in thrift stores, and that's even sadder than dying alone. 😢
❤
How sad! and what a great kindness was given to him.
Your family has shown great kindness to that man. Your mother must be an empathic, warm woman.
This is so moving and a reminder for me to check up on my elderly neighbors who live alone. Thank you for your thoughtfulness it will help me to spring into action and friendship. I used to bring them food during the pandemic and did so after but have tapered off. Time to get out the soup pot and cook. Thanks so much, form California.
❤
This woman is a consummate actor to her very marrow. It is a privilege to watch her perform.
Yes, indeed. She's fabulous!
Shut up
Its person not woman
Impolite to discuss other oeoples bods
They didnt ask for your opinion
She observes everyone and notices the smallest details about them, but no one takes notice of her. Surrounded by people but so lonely. Any interaction, no matter how mundane makes her feel important. Even a fly buzzing around her head is seen as an positive interaction. A tragic story, beautifully told.
She does an extraordinary job of portraying narcissistic psychopathology, so delusionally grandiose that she perceives the fly as having somehow found her "special" among all those other patients in the ward....completely unaware that it's a sign she's at death's door and the fly is just waiting to lay its eggs on her.
It reminds me of me. I'm disabled and my kids are grown living life, enjoying it. But, often too busy for mom.
@@le_th_Seems like you missed the writing and the intentional subtext there… If anything you’re grandiose in imagining that you’re the only one to read that second meaning into it, rather than the writers having intended something there.
Wonderful observation Jill
thank you.
Maybe Alan Bennett referring to the fabulous Emily Dickinson? ‘I heard a fly buzz when I died’?
I really didn't feel frightened or sad during my cancer experience but now, some years later, it's astonishing how much anxiety my body remembers watching this woman go through it.
It really takes talent to captivate an audience all by yourself.
And this wonderful woman has it in spade fulls An Actress of the highest caliber
"All by yourself"--but with a head full of Alan Bennett's beautifully crafted language.
@@lawsonj39 Without delivery and timing, the most beautifully crafted language in the world is just words, words, words. The human voice infuses the text with the deeper shades of meaning.
Good writing is good writing.
I think this is most of us. The slow descent from being ‘alive’ to getting frail, more and more people ignore and rush by us, never dropping to just say hello as our world shrinks more and more. That’s why I watch this having just turned 56 and can not only see myself but see my parents and before that my grandparents. Very poignant.
I almost went through this with my stroke. I saw it happen before with my mom and grandmother.
Some people like their life getting smaller and less public. ❤ maybe they feel it gives them time to appreciate what really matters.
⁷
Yo, right!
I'm dreading it man. We do get forgotten once we can't keep up. I'm crippled already, and when my daughter moves out and moves on I have no idea what I'm going to do. I can't get out and do stuff, I'm literally unable already. I just praise God he blessed me with liking to be alone. I'm not scared or lonely when alone. I couldn't imagine if I was scared to be alone or couldn't stand it. I'm sure im.going to find out what lonely is when my daughter moves on. I have ONE YEAR LEFT until 18. I'm petrified
Thank you for posting this. Dame Patricia Routledge was absolutely BRILLIANT in this, and her portrayal of a single woman with no family (except an estranged father) who was dying was very realistic. The cinematography was simple but it helped tell the story of her decline, up until the final image. If she didn’t win an award for this performance, she should have.
This is gut-wrenching writing and acting. The dialogue is so mundane but really crackles with emotion in Patricia Routledge’s capable hands. I’ve watched this a dozen times and cried a little each time. Alan Bennett is a genius. What an amazing series! Bravo, brava!
That is some powerhouse acting. There is so much more to her than Hyacinth. Well done, Ms. Routledge.
First time I ever saw her was in Keeping Up Appearances. At that time I had no idea of who she was and what she'd done. I thought KUA was spectacular, and then the local public broadcasting station aired "Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet," played by Ms. Routledge. I was completely transfixed at how utterly distinguishable her character Ms. Fozzard was to that of Hyacinth. How she captivated and enchanted me throughout that monologue was enormously impacting. In this, you can get a real sense of her love and deep respect for the power of language. She is truly a woman with a thousand faces. She can play any part she puts her mind to. My only regret with Dame Patricia is that she has never done any action thrillers.
@@TVHouseHistorian Well said, sir!
Miss not Ms.
@@TVHouseHistorian Miss not Ms.
This is Hyacinth doing a musical. She’s singing beautifully.
At last, she's now Dame Patricia Routledge and rightly so! Three cheers for this master artist. Flawless.
Dame Patricia! I say… Keeping up appearances now, isn’t she?!
What did she die of ?
@@samanthaherschell6010 You're asking about "the woman of no importance"? It's not stated explicitly we each have to deduce what's going on from what we hear, which is, of course one of the many reasons for the piece's superbly brilliant poignancy. But it was almost certainly of some type of cancer, since she was examined and then sent for allegedly exploratory surgery. To no avail. since she does not mention further surgery, merely being taken down for her "treatment" by the cheerful hospital porters. And, of course, the episodes take place over time, and it is clear from what she says about herself and the attitude of both nurses and her few visitors that her health is deteriorating and she is dying. In the video, we are left with the sad image of the empty bed, but it is superfluous, really - the piece works superbly, even if you merely listen, with no video (as I did until the end.)
I'm posting this in August 2021 and, as far as I know, the actress who played her, Dame Patricia Routledge, though elderly, is still going strong. :-) As recently, 2020, she was interviewed at Chichester Cathedral in an event held to raise funds for the roof appeal, of which she is patron.
www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/news/dame-patricia-routledge-raises-funds-chichester-cathedral
I had enjoyed the talents of this wonderful actress for many years. Glad she finally reached Dame status . She is in good company that is for sure.
@@MadofaA ####
I just can't get over this performance. It's like every time I watch this, I want to bathe in it even more. She's fantastic. There's not a false moment in the whole soliloquy.
It was mentioning the days she felt fine and the knitted bedcoat for me. Once tight but then fit just right? My heart broke. Took me right back to my dad, once a 6ft2 robust trucker and preacher reduced to almost nothing as well as my mum, teacher so full of life, diagnosed on Monday then gone on Wednesday morning.
The marriage of Alan Bennett's writing and the delivery of Patricia Routledge is truly a work of art. "She laughed" so poignant, so sad, so beautifully delivered. Thank you both for the pleasure of this.
Patricia Routhledge the best ever. she is so delicate and subtle in her expressions. i don't think any other actress could have pulled that off on such a high level. i really love to watch her, she also resembles my grandmother or my grandmother her, in temper and even looks, particular in her hairstyle. and of course, it also must be mentioned, that play is a great piece of observation and insight, great work by Bennett.
Yes…. Once again …. Stunning performance. When you have some quiet time, please watch this.
I am a cancer patient, Thank God my last treatment will be this Wednesday…. And it does look positive to me and I feel grateful to Him.
For Patricia Rutledge to perform this one woman act is ( watching a real actress) such incredible work. Bravo Patricia!!! A+++++ work!!! I am going to watch it right now again, but your performance took me right into that world!!
Eveyone…. I’m going to be ok with what I’ve been going theough.
You never know what’s around that corner.
God Bless you guys.
I am weeping after have watched this at least 6 times. This is life folks. We will all see this at some point. I hope when it is my time there will be someone there who will "laugh" with me.
Very impressive!
It must be so hard to memorize all those lines and say them back with such conviction. She makes it look so effortless and believable.
Beh se e' stata insignita del titolo di Dame per meriti artistici ci sara' stato un motivo...
The continuing heartbreak of a philandering father...
The learned avoidance of pain, both past and present..
The magnification of the minific..
And the relishing of small joys, (the only safe form of intimacy) encapsulated in two words...
We LAUGHED... (pause)
SPECTACULAR Writing, SUPERB Performance.
Well said!
Wonderful actress and national treasure, Patricia Routledge!
*international
Dame Routledge proved once again that she could carry any show. What a marvelous actor.
This is one of the most profound monologues that I've seen and Patricia made it even better. This was done flawlessly word after word. To each his own but this is very deep and serves as a point of epiphany...coming to the realization that life is not promised but whilst you still have it, make the most of it. Wow!!!! I'm pretty much lost for words.
What's amazing about her is she's clearly reeling off a long, well written script but she is so effortless and makes it so real and like she's just talking to family or friends!
shes awesome , love all the kate on your page ! i saw her !
***** yeah she has this amazing ability to make scripted lines sound very natural
***** This reminds me a lot of the American play Wit. There's a movie of it with Emma Thompson. Its about an English professor dying of ovarian cancer. Less mystery and not as upbeat but it too uses the tool of second person narration along with exceptional writing and an eloquent performance by an amazing English actress.
***** Effortless is the perfect world!!
***** Fuck off mate, this was awful shit! How can you watch some old tart talking for 46 minutes and think its amazing. Fuck Hyacinth Bouquet!
I worked in this kind of office environment for 20 years before I had to quit to take care of my mother. It’s amazing how much truth is in this performance, even 40 years later!
I love just listening to her - her pronunciation and her diction!
Miss Scofield looked and sounded exactly as my mother did... my mother was 58 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. She lasted less than a year... enduring terribly painful surgeries and long, awful stints in hospital.
Watching this masterful performance by Patricia Routledge just brought all of those vivid memories back. Words cannot describe how incredible she was. I had never even heard of this monologue before... but it's the most relatable work of art I've ever seen.
i know it is quite off topic but do anyone know a good place to stream new series online ?
@Derrick Stefan Meh I use flixportal. You can find it thru google:P -tripp
@Tripp Bryson Thanks, signed up and it seems like a nice service :D Appreciate it !
@Derrick Stefan Glad I could help :D
Yes people will never know what goes through their minds. Knowing they are living their last days and looking at everything, often mentally reminiscing about their childhood or happy holidays. The best thing to do is always be there holding their hands - they deserve it - as they were three holding your hand when you were born.
This is such a realistic portrait of death by cancer and loneliness. I worked in a leukaemia unit. This is so sad, I saw patients pass away after months with out a single visitor. Heart breaking performance by Patricia Routledge.
So often, when people become ill or elderly, tragically, they are totally abandoned.
@@heliotrope3345 When I was young, families lived near one another -- often on the same street. When someone was dying, there was a lot of gathering around. I found family life stifling. Now, my immediate family is scattered over the U.S. As I age, I see the value of the old ways.
@@heliotrope3345 If you believe in Jesus you'll never be or feel abandoned. He will be with you always.
Stunning performance by a stunning and well appreciated actress. Yes, a true master of her trade. Thank you Dame Patricia!
And powered by stunning writing
There is no other word to describe this monologue other than excellent. Bennett writes the words so well, Routledge delivers them so effortlessly, and it's a perfect combination.
I was a young thing when I first saw this on t.v. It made a great impression. This is still my dream kind of television. Such a shame it no longer exists. Not even Sky Arts show anything of this caliber.
Her delivery is superb!
Amazing how they brilliantly used the lighting to make her appear older, lean and pale as the illness progresses. Amazing
What a great production. You can see where Victoria Wood got her "Kitty" character from! You think you're the centre of everything when things are going well, but when the chips are down you're suddenly very much on your own.
How to underplay. The variety of "we laughed" is superb. Writing that hits the heart.
@Sonja i know i'm very late but what do you think that means?
@Sonja thanks for your insight; after thinking a bit more about it i also feel it might represent how she realises the seriousness of her situation and isn't trying to be agreeable anymore, she wishes everyone would stop pretending everything is okay when it really isn't...
Katherine, it must be a matter of perspective, because for me, I look at it like she makes the most of life and her very existence, while living in joy thru her solitude. recounting her happy memories in naivete'.
@@paulafeudo5504 I see your point. What an amazing actress Patrica Routledge !
I always looked at that as similar to when someone says "how funny" to a statement they actually don't find amusing at all. A filler, if you will, to make the speaker feel important for just a moment; even when they don't particularly return the favor. Miss Scofield doesn't seem to recognize the sarcastic, avoiding and patronizing tones that are directed at her for her efforts.
I am flabbergasted. How she procedes by slight touches of colour to give life to that declining woman is the work of a great actress. How everything falls apart around her and how she keeps up is so in line with that woman who had a mediocre life but clung to her illusions to hide that fact is heartwrenching......
123pailin Spot on my BBC watching friend.We will putter on and be the best flipping fans of brit telly"and other jolly good entertainment 😉😊
Reminds me of my Mom. Pattering on about the minutia of petty things related to other people, and bragging about tiny perceived achievements right up until her last breath.
She was great in Mrs Bucket a comedy series on TV.
@@Magdalene_b The show was called “Keeping Up Appearances,” and yes she was awesome in it
@@teledoinksounds like you as well.
My she has such an amazing memory. Who can remember all those lines! :)
Patricia is truly amazing in this haunting story. Her acting is poignant. I love her in anything she does.
Patricia Routledge has always been a marvellous actress. Most people know her for Hyacinth Bucket, but she was well known long before that. She is amazing. This part was so well played. Alan Bennett writes some hilariously funny stuff and then some unbelievably sad and poignant stuff too.
And that, is how acting is done. A Master's class, taught by Dame Patricia Routledge.
This was ground breaking work in 1982. Even Patricia Routledge was not sure it would work and thought twice about taking it on. Truly great writing. Amazing vocal variety from Miss Routledge - every inflection so natural and yet so finely judged. Stunning!
+Tenortalker To be honest with you, it is astonishing even now. Routledge and the writer are beyond compare. This amazing woman is still with us, and still performing. I knew nothing about her until I started watching "Hetty Winthrop..." about three years ago on a recommendation. She absolutely took my breath away.
+Le Kre Yes she lives in Chichester and often takes roles in the theatre there. She also used to sing in the 'extra choir' of Chichester Cathedral I believe just for the pleasure of singing. She is now in her mid eighties. She also endows a prize for the Association of English Singers and Speakers competition.
+Tenortalker hard to believe she was 53 on here
michael jagger
Tenortalker the Brits are brilliant people.Britain rules the world.
She's a treasure, a master. What a privilege to watch this. Thank you Bada Jozsef.
Came upon this watching other Patricia videos. Thought i might watch a few minutes and finish the rest later. Well what can i say, completely hooked from the first few minutes i stayed and watched it all. Absolutely amazing actress!!
When i find gems like these i'm so grateful that internet exists.
Happy 90th Birthday Patricia Routledge
This was a fantastic performance. Especially the realistic 'fidgets' and wandering glances. Just masterful.
Patricia Routledge is simply gorgeous! The way she performs in the end - unique! A real great actress. Thanks for uploading!
the more that you watch this film, the more outstanding it seems. the writing flawless, the acting, well...beyond anything, anyone of the current "celebrity" actresses could produce. wonderful.
The sad part is that those women (those men as well) are everywhere but we don't see them , we don't notice them 'the clue is in the title) and most of them would not recognize themselves if they watched this .
This is not even a caricature of people, this is an actual blue print of people but with the mastery of Patricia Routledge , showing us exactly how and who they are when we take a minute to pay attention to and get a closer look at the ones we think of as people of no importance . This script is a masterpiece , and it is played by a maestra.
.
Maybe because I enjoy life in seclusion more or less, I didn't see her as lonely, but rather, just one who makes the most of her surroundings, and enjoys whatever it is, the laughs, the trees, the people, and all.
@@paulafeudo5504 I wish that was true. Then it would be the very definition of bliss.
@@brendairwin257 Sadly true.
Yes, Morgan, I find it true for myself, while yet, into every life a little rain must fall...I call those times....challenges, and all-in-all, life is quite blissful, in the regards I surmised.. Blessings.
Sometimes in my more suicidal moments, it helps to recognise myself as someone of no importance. A few people might be sad, but the universe will never notice. In fact, it will probably feel lighter. And all the things that live in my heart will die with me, so they won’t be missed either.
My ideal is still to disappear from people’s memories even before I go. But that’s not exactly possible.
An acting masterclass.
Patricia is brilliant, the acting is amazing. I feel honored to have viewed this.
she is an exceptional actress and this is an outstanding script
This is what I am becoming after raising kids on my own and now empty nest. My thoughts go everywhere and I can't find purpose, true friends or my energetic self
How are you?
@@vincentsmit1935 That is what I'm wondering.❤
Me too after my husband died of Covid. No purpose.
Just getting old. Sad.
Yea u can. What do you wanna do. N do it. You earned it n deserve it.
Why are we so lonely? I am in a new town and meeting people but still.
If an extraterrestrial descended upon planet earth and saw this performance, he/she/it would understand what it is to be "human." This actress captures all the quirks of human nature that we recognize so easily. Bravo!
cut out the middleman. ugh this performance always gets to me everytime i watch it, as someone of lonely experience
It really hits home.
This is a masterpiece. She may not be the most likeable person. But by the end, your heart is actually breaking for her.
I actually like her. It’s an older person whose world is getting smaller and smaller and therefore over focuses on tiny small things that make their day. I’ve seen so many old people like this. First they can’t drive and have to give up a car, the. Can’t get out as much and children often ignore old parents except of course, when they have their hands out for money or the will.
@@xr6lad i agree
@@xr6lad And some of us never learned to drive, never had children, and family has died or simply drifted on. You end up alone, so you learn to be your own company. You focus on the small things because that's all there is left. At least when I die there will be no one to be hurt by my passing. I have friends, but I'm sure that a week after I'm gone my memory will have faded.
@@annainspain5176 I hear you. Xxx
I must have watched this ten times now, and I never get bored of it. I keep picking up little details, like how the young doctor is subtly trying to inquire as to her next of kin, and how she is a little bit in love with Mr Skidmore. Someone's already covered the flaws in her character, so I'll say that having been in a situation where I was the only person who didn't know that I was dying (obviously I eventually recovered, unlike poor Peggy), I identify with a lot of the things she tells us. And Patricia Routledge's performance is just masterful. She pulls this off perfectly and breaks my heart for this sad, lonely woman every time.
Merocet I was in the same situation but was unconscious & so had no idea. The doctor later told me, having recovered from my waking up rather brightly after a night I wasn't going to get through alive (w septicaemia), that the fact I THOUGHT I was going to survive was perhaps what saved me. He couldn't give me any medical reason why I did. I was 35. You?
He wasn't trying to "inquire as to her next of kin" - he was inquiring into her family and socio-support structure to see if there were any possible contributors to her condition.
My grandmother was just like this character. She could sit there and tell you stories like these ones for a good 30 mins and never look at you once in the face or stop to see if you were still listening. She was so engrossed in her own little world. She was English and had very similar facial expressions as Ms. Routledge......this was so fabulous to watch. I dont know how she remembers all these lines
She remembers the lines because it's so well written. Alan Bennett had a superb ear for dialogue. He didnt write literary stuff no-one would say in real life. He wrote stuff people really do say but poetisised it with the phrasing and juxtaposition of states of mood. If you get hold of a text , read it aloud, using that accent you will be amazed how much sticks. Jo Orton's plays are similar in that they are incredibly easy to remember whereas you have to work a bit harder with Tom Stoppard or Peter Schaffer even though they are great playwrights. They are just one step removed from everyday speech. Whereas GBS and Noel Coward are more mannered . I am not ranking in order of merit just the order of ease of memorizing.
@Anon Girl I concur with you my friend. However I will interject that, after surrendering our lives to Jesus, repenting and accepting the gift of salvation, we do have a part in the covenant relationship. We cannot ''practice'' sin as a lifestyle. Unrepentant, ongoing sin does separate us from our HOLY God.
She's an actor. It's what they do.
@@annainspain5176not all actors can do it though.
Devastatingly poignant and articulate....totally heartbreaking and real. Thank you Patricia Routledge .....amazing.
You've expressed my reaction perfectly.
@@garywait3231 ❤
@@SuperSunshinesue : Hearts to you, too !!!
I love how subtle she is. What an actress!
I bow deeply to Dame Patricia Routledge.
This monologue is amazing.
She was in To Sir with Love in 1967 she is terrific ----------Bless you Ms Routledge
one of a kind
Oh right! Was she the silly office worker in To Sir With Love?
Pathos, with no self pity. Clever. Miss Margaret Scofield RIP
probably the most talented actress in Britain today.
She and Judi Dench are the best of them all, including all the so-called talent in the USA.
indeed
For all those rightly espousing the brilliant writing of this piece the following information might be useful.
The author is Alan Bennett who is one of the best writers to ever come out of Yorkshire or perhaps England. His style is poignant and always slow but studied build of the story.
He has also written other pieces under the heading of 'Talking Heads', all monologues like this, starring himself as well as a who's who of british actors Maggie Smith, Patricia Routledge, Eileen Atkins, Julie Walters, Penelope Wilton, David Haig, Thora Hird, Stephanie Cole.
My favourites of these are 'Bed Among the Lentils' 'Lady of letters' and 'Finger of God'
He has written many award winning plays such as "History Boys" and also the oscar winning movie "The Madness of King George"
I devour anything he produces. Some trivia that you also might find interesting is that the play he wrote called the 'The Lady in the Van' is actually based on a true story of an eccentric vagabond lady who was parked up in his front yard for over 15 years.
Thanks
@@raggaahmed8626 Thank you so much for sharing the info on the writer. So masterful. I look foward to checking out some of the works you mentioned.
I second what Martin Latham has written here. And for those who don't already know, since he posted, the play "The Lady in the Van" has been made into a successful film, starring Maggie Smith as the title character. It's now available on DVD and probably on some streaming services.
@@jenniferh6813 Yes, I saw it on Netflix.
What a well-written piece, what an incredible actress. I am so moved.
So sad, but brilliantly written and acted.
Strangely comforting, powerful and sad, all at the same time. Patricia is such an excellent actress and so entertaining to watch. I just wish people would enjoy her performance and not feel obligated to down-talk others. It sort of puts a negative taint on a compliment to badmouth someone else. You never really hear the actors running each other down...can't we do the same?
Amen to that. This monologue was just profound...too bad some individuals are too superficial to find the real meaning of things.
I agree, we should.
"Eleanor Rigby; died in the church and was buried along with her name: nobody came-
ah look at all the lonely people...."
“Father McKenzie; Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave; No one was saved”.
This performance is so spot on!! How significant and vital every minute of our lives are when we're young and in good health. Then as we age and things start to break down we get passed by and overlooked more and more until we're no longer important to much of anybody. We all get old - let's try and remember to take time with our elders and have some compassion.
This always leaves a hole in my psyche when I watch it.
It's a beautiful piece, painful but beautiful.
Even as Hyathince she had a light within her. Her friends and family thought her hard to bear, but truth be told they were attracted to her inner light and her enthusiasm for life. She filled a need in them.
This character has her same inner light and brightness, which attracts us to her.
One smooth take
straight through,
flawless!
BRAVO
Sad. She never actually mentions cancer and runs around it: somewhat in denial. I love her.
This is devastatingly beautiful.
Such a stellar performance! She is magnificent in each role , no matter how different they are.
So sad ,how many people are in this same position,friends but not close enough to be there in your darkest hours,noticed aittle of hyacinth in the early parts,wonderful performance ❤
What a match made in heaven Routledge and Bennett. Pure talent, rarely seen nowadays
Bennett makes you look into the depths of your own soul.
I first saw Patricia Routledge in a TV "Victoria Regina" in 1964, so I've been a fan for 50 years.
Crying and crying. So movingly sad. A cutting portrait of a lonely life.
I've never seen this before, but I've watched it twice now - an absolutely compelling performance. It has had the most profound effect on me in a way that no other piece of acting has. The thing is, in my life now and in the past, I know or knew so many people like her. There are more people in our society like this than we care to see or admit. Loneliness is certainly a key theme and the main elements are here in this character, the fact that she is of mature years and unmarried; that her circle of "friends" and "associates" derive from her mandated environment - work or the hospital. But you can be married with a brood of children and be in a packed football stadium yet be lonely.
I desperately want to believe the character didn't die in the end and that, as someone says below, the mystery illness was a metaphor for her loneliness. The two parts of this performance that hit me the most were when, after her first appointment with the specialist, she sat in the square before getting the bus and admired the trees. The second are when she was in the hospital looking out the window from her chair commenting on the comings and goings - where she turns to the camera and says that she is worried about her dad. These two things show to me that despite, what the outside part of her character might show, she is just human, like everyone else....
globaltraveller very well said.I thought I was odd watching it almost every day before my own stay in the hospital. I realized before hand that we come and go everywhere in life.We all have our own little delusions. I grew to love her character the more that was revealed to me each time I watched. Actually ,It always leaves me quite sad.It's also the peripheral characters unseen. It's life with no comic relief.Adding to the 2 comments that grabbed your attention, such as I wonder how my dad is. The part where she says I wish they wouldn't laugh, there shouldn't be laughing. I wrote a poem just on that alone. At that time life's games were over and we see Peggy feeling mortality.
globaltraveller “compelling”is the perfect word. Ive watched this twice and listened to it many times as i work about the house. It is cerebral and i like that.
Of COURSE you've 'known people like her'. We ALL have known such people. Probably we ALL have a little piece of 'people like her' inside ourselves.
Very well said @globaltraveller. It hit me very hard as well. I've watched it several times too so you are not the only one.
@Sonja my favourite was always Bed Among the Lentils but as I have gotten older, each time I watch these, I have a different favourite. Alan Bennett is a master.
A very poignant piece superbly written & delivered by the old guard of entertainment. A fantastic piece of English theatre!
Sadly work of this quality is no longer produced & broadcast over the airways!
Patricia Routledge plays the part here of a woman full of her own importance & superiority, even to the point that she refuses to admit she's terminally ill & is relentless to the end! Good old English stiff upper lip!
With such veterans in the arts , I can see how British actors are making waves in 2023. They have phenomenal forerunners 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I’ve now watched this 8 times. I know I’ll watch it again.
What a combination Alan Bennett and Patricia Routledge....
My first time watching anything like this and i was glued to it....such a fine actress
i absolutely love this. she is such a great actress, the way she savours every syllable and packs so much emotion into every trivial detail. i love alan bennet's style. it's so original and distinctive. mundane things written with such profound emphasis and loving detail. feel inspired. it makes me want to pick up a pen and write.
I have watched this several times over the last few years and each time it rips out my heart.
Same- 😥🐨🇦🇺
This amazing performance has brought me to tears. Dear, dear Miss Scoffield.....God bless you
What gets me about this is how Miss Schofield's catch phrase, " We Laughed" gets more and more sporadic as the piece moves to its conclusion.
Bennett is a genius and his economy of words is masterful, both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Alan Bennett hails from Leeds ( as do I) and how he has distilled the speech mannerisms of these northern women of a certain age ( women I grew up listening to) , right down to the semi mouthing of the word Bowel is brilliant
When an actor hitscthe public consciousness with one particular role that catapults them to greater fame such as Patricia Routledge's comedy masterclass portrayal of Hyacinth (Bucket) Bouquet, people forget the body of work behind them (See Miriam Margloyes re Harry Potter). Routledge has appeared on Broadway, worked with Leonard Bernstein, sung opera and appeared in screen in many gems throughout her glittering carreer.
Check out her collaborations with Victoria Wood and the other work she has done with Bennett, it's rich pickings.
How can she memorize so many words !!!! An amazing actor 🥰
you read my mind!
Brilliant. We are all getting by. She is so happy with the small things, and that is so very important. It's the difference between a good life and a bad life. Seek happiness in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Always look forward to the next adventure. It's the only way to live.
So much comes to light about this woman and all the while we feel what's underneath all the words, the decline and eventual end of a life. Patricia Routledge is an outstanding performer.
It is also refreshing to just enjoy with no laugh track. Something like this is usually done in front of a live audience. But it's brilliant, and so is she, and I don't need a fake laugh or recorded emotions to let me know I'm watching genius.
Sarah Richards you are in stitches watching her .you don't need a laugh track. Hyacinth Bouquet lady of the house speaking. so hilarious
This was not "comedy." Nothing really to laugh at in someone dying of a cancer they haven't been told they have.
What an actress! Im her biggest fan! God bless you Dame. I thank you for getting me through wrough times..😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I am... A woman of no importance. But I am a Mrs. and a Mother. What a performance Dame Patricia.. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!.
I know you will never see my post but I send it out to God.. I love you so much..
The writing and acting are amazing. Miss Scofield is a nice person but lonely, so lonely. Listening to her talk is heartbreaking. She’s such a nonentity
She's what us younger dorks call an NPC or non-playable character. Couldn't watch all of it going on and on about other people... sort of irritating. Skipped toward the end. Sad :(
@@jmitterii2 Too bad you skipped over most of the video. The beginning and the end mean nothing at all unless you see and listen to the main part. It's not about the beginning and the end. It's about the journey of this woman's life. By going "on and on about other people" is an important part of this story. It's not to introduce these characters to us, instead, it tells us a great deal about the woman herself, who she is, what her thoughts of others and herself are, how she imagines herself to be perceived by others. We would have no idea who this woman is if she didn't talk about other people. There's no big fanfare or climax at the end, just a culmination of her life. You must watch the entire video and give some thought to the script, if you are interested in observing life's cycles. You count yourself in as a "younger dork", that's too bad. Don't be one. Don't always look for the self-gratifying, fast action, fireworks ending, stories. Take time to look at the reality of our existence.
@@jmitterii2somewhat ironic as with most younger people it is all about themselves as that’s what they’ve always been told is the most important person.