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The
Unofficial Chronology of Dame Judi Dench's Career |
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Fond and Familiar |
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Michael Williams, Dame Judi and John Moffat This Program was performed various times throughout the 1990's.
Fond and Familiar Excerpt # 2 Fond and Familiar Excerpt # 3
Listen to the Musical Selections on the Jukebox Music Page
Thanks to Gloria B.
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Fond and Familiar, The Fortune Theatre, October 31, 1999 The performance was simply wonderful. Midnight blue velvet curtain backdrop, three chairs, two small tables with glasses and water pitchers, and a large aspidistra plant on a tasteful pedestal to one side. As they came on to the stage, there was warm, sedate applause; Michael and John, in black tie, stood to the left and right, and Judi, radiant in a long black velvet off-the-shoulder gown, went to centre stage. Her hair was silver, and she was absolutely beautiful. There was no pianist, and whenever the readings called for music or singing, they just did it a cappella. For the most part, the readings were the same as we've heard on the tape, but it was thrilling to be able to *see* them as they read, and reacted with the audience. John and Michael were great, Michael speaking volumes with just a sidelong glance, or the flick of a finger! And of course dear Judi was superb. So moving and heart-wrenching when reading the serious pieces, and positively hilarious while speaking (or listening to Michael or John speak) the silly or naughty ones! Just as on the tape, she protested at their rendering of the rollicking epitaphs and the naughty limericks, but now we could actually *see* her pacing about on the stage, trying to get them to behave, and plopping down in her chair in despair! Of course, when SHE wanted to tell us a spicy one, it was an entirely different matter, - she would sidle up to us with a conspiritorial glance, then let us have it, with a gleeful air of triumph, - then turn and walk away, as Michael would feign astonishment and John would shake his head, or proclaim, "A *Dame* of the British Empire!" When John or Michael would start one that was obviously aimed in a risque direction, she would do her wonderful double-take, glare at them, and protest weakly, "Now, this has got to stop," or "Michael, that's disgusting," to the delight of her enthralled audience. Early in the program, when Michael recited "Here Lies John Bunn," Judi managed to keep a straight face until he got to the end, but then when he said "Bum would," instead of "Bun would," she absolutely lost it. She put her hand up to her face and was simply convulsed with laughter. She just could not stop laughing; she turned her back to the audience, trying to regain her composure, then faced us again, and again broke up into gales of laughter, then stepped back, collapsed into her chair and continued to laugh with her program book held up in front of her face. John was looking bemused, and Michael was between chagrin and merriment, waiting for the audience applause and laughter to subside. Then, with perfect timing, he took a step forward and said "Or perhaps I should say "Bun would." Of course this brought a new round of applause and gleeful laughter from the audience. What fun! The entire performance was perfection. In addition to the pieces we are familiar with, they each did one other reading. John read "Christmas Day in the Workhouse," Michael read "The Legend of Dan McGrew," and Judi did "Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight." All were mesmerizing, and you could have heard a pin drop. The end of the first half was "The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away," and of course while singing this tune, they - "slowly walked away." At the end of the second part, after the poignant "End of a Perfect Day," they of course did "Be Kind to Your Web-footed Friends" in unison, and with perfectly straight faces, then slowly marched off the stage. Truly, this was the end of a "Perfect Day."
View the Printable Performance Listing
A Special Thank You
to Meggie R. for sharing her experiences with us.
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