Talking of our Fliss, I’ll never forget when my English ‘A’ Level class back in 1979 was offered the chance of going to the theatre to watch a play in our syllabus. Acceptances were pitifully low, until we were told that Felicity Kendal was in the play – we filled the coach, mainly with testosterone-filled teenage lads from my year!
It was made great by one person, Penelope Keith, as a rampant snob who constantly henpecked her husband and was always going on about the Surbiton Upper Middle Class Ladies Group and criticising the Labour government. Yes Richard Briers and Flick Kendall were good as the couple who want to go back to nature, but without Penelope Keith, it would have been half as funny,
I remember it was profiled on Comedy Connections where the writers mentioned creating the other neighbours to be between helpful & hostile, as too far either way & it wouldn’t have worked.
The Good Life was a winner as it arrived just in time for the energy crisis, when everyone was trying to save energy, and in the last stages of the hippy era. Indeed there is a hilarious episode where some hippies get wind of the Goods attempt to go back to nature and try to set up a commune with Tom as their guru. Always enjoyed the show and perhaps the best thing Richard Briers ever did.
OBSCURE VEHICLE for FELICITY “HONEY FOR TEA” KENDAL.
Arthur Nibble
August 3, 2009 at 12:17 am
Talking of our Fliss, I’ll never forget when my English ‘A’ Level class back in 1979 was offered the chance of going to the theatre to watch a play in our syllabus. Acceptances were pitifully low, until we were told that Felicity Kendal was in the play – we filled the coach, mainly with testosterone-filled teenage lads from my year!
The Haj
February 19, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I think my favourite bit was Margo being told about the fleas –
‘Jerry! Burn EVERYTHING!!’
Alan B
February 26, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Felicity is all very well, but Margo was where the *real* action was.
Glenn Aylett
May 3, 2021 at 11:24 am
It was made great by one person, Penelope Keith, as a rampant snob who constantly henpecked her husband and was always going on about the Surbiton Upper Middle Class Ladies Group and criticising the Labour government. Yes Richard Briers and Flick Kendall were good as the couple who want to go back to nature, but without Penelope Keith, it would have been half as funny,
Richardpd
May 3, 2021 at 10:10 pm
I remember it was profiled on Comedy Connections where the writers mentioned creating the other neighbours to be between helpful & hostile, as too far either way & it wouldn’t have worked.
Glenn Aylett
May 4, 2021 at 7:54 pm
The Good Life was a winner as it arrived just in time for the energy crisis, when everyone was trying to save energy, and in the last stages of the hippy era. Indeed there is a hilarious episode where some hippies get wind of the Goods attempt to go back to nature and try to set up a commune with Tom as their guru. Always enjoyed the show and perhaps the best thing Richard Briers ever did.
Richardpd
May 4, 2021 at 10:38 pm
Not to mention counterpointing Margo’s very 1970s brand of snobbery.
Sidney Balmoral James
May 5, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Seconded – Richard Briers is excellent in this. ‘Nice bit of thigh!’
Richardpd
May 5, 2021 at 10:30 pm
Thirded, he only gets close performance-wise in Ever Decreasing Circles.