Mapp and Lucia

[AjAjAjH]

O dear is there nobody out there who enjoyed them?

I did.

[Flosshilde]

I wouldn't say that I didn't enjoy it - just that it wasn't perfect

[makropulos]

O dear is there nobody out there who enjoyed them?

I did.

Me too, and I say that as a passionate devotee of the earlier televised version. I particularly enjoyed Anna Chancellor's Lucia.

[Nick Armstrong]

O dear is there nobody out there who enjoyed them?

I did.

I have all 3 episodes waiting on the HD and was about to delete them having read this thread, as it sounds to be the sort of thing that drives me nuts (as the man with the steering wheel attached to... ahem... )

But having read the last few posts, it will be given a chance!

[Barbirollians]

I enjoyed them - they are very beautifully set and Miranda R is magnificent . Quaint Irene was interesting - in the 1980s adaptations she has much more of the acid and lack of respect of the books whilst the new series and the younger and more beautiful Lucia made it seem like a serious unrequited love than hero worship .

On the other side of the coin - Geraldine McEwan, Nigel Hawthorne particularly and Prunella Scales are better . Also the new series clearly suffered from the BBCs evident refusal to film the flood scenes in this series almost as if they were waiting to see how they were received before incurring the expense. This led to the need to interpolate episodes from the earlier books to stretch it out over three nights .

[Dave2002]

Me too, and I say that as a passionate devotee of the earlier televised version. I particularly enjoyed Anna Chancellor's Lucia.

Unlike others here I much preferred her performance to that of Miranda Richardson. Chacun ...

[Barbirollians]

Unlike others here I much preferred her performance to that of Miranda Richardson. Chacun ...

Anna Chancellor's Lucia came across as much too nice and Olympian in her attitudes . Geraldlne McEwan got much closer to the character IMO .

[Dave2002]

Anna Chancellor's Lucia came across as much too nice and Olympian in her attitudes . Geraldlne McEwan got much closer to the character IMO .

I suppose that could be a "correct" view if you assume that some sort of faithfullness to the books is required. I haven't got far enough into the books yet to have a judgement on that how could I? - I was unaware of these novels until a few days ago. By such criteria it may well be that Miranda R's performance was the best in the latest version, but in isolation, without any other reference, I didn't like it.

[Flosshilde]

I suppose that could be a "correct" view if you assume that some sort of faithfullness to the books is required. I haven't got far enough into the books yet to have a judgement on that how could I? - I was unaware of these novels until a few days ago. By such criteria it may well be that Miranda R's performance was the best in the latest version, but in isolation, without any other reference, I didn't like it.

I think it was you who said in an earliuer post that you hated Mapp? I think in the earlier series Prunella Scales gave a much more subtle, rounded performance, making her more sympathetic. McEwan, om the other hand, was a bit less subtle than the present Lucia, & less likeable. It does change the balance, which in the books I think was more even-handed.

[Honoured Guest]

McEwan, om the other hand, ...

Guru is agreeing.

[Flosshilde]

Just watched Episode 2. Ha! the events used all happened in 'Queen Lucia', set in Riseholme, with no sign of Mapp. Presumably the makers of the series didn't want to go to the expence of filming in another town, but then why not use the events set in Tilling? There is plenty of material to fill 3 one hour episodes.

[Barbirollians]

Just watched Episode 2. Ha! the events used all happened in 'Queen Lucia', set in Riseholme, with no sign of Mapp. Presumably the makers of the series didn't want to go to the expence of filming in another town, but then why not use the events set in Tilling? There is plenty of material to fill 3 one hour episodes.

I understand they wanted to save the expense of the flood scenes until they saw the ratings and reception for the series . Also a number of subplots from Miss Mapp were introduced .

[Nick Armstrong]

I enjoyed them - they are very beautifully set and Miranda R is magnificent.

Glad you enjoyed them, Barb - but I've rarely disagreed with you more!

I'm afraid I'm very much on the Dave2002, keraulo and ferney side of the fence: I also found it

Toe-curlingly bad!

Gave it half the first episode to improve, but found it intolerable. It seemed to me to suffer from the same awful malaise as the various recent ITV 'Marple' series, of well-known faces mugging and gurning effortfully. Miranda R was the worst of the lot, desperately trying to channel Prunella Scales and ending up being merely embarrassing. Anna Chancellor stood out as being the only one to deliver anything approaching subtlety and style.

Summarily deleted from the hard drive. Talking about driving, the best thing about it was the car - wonderful Bentley !

[Barbirollians]

Mapp is however an irredeemable grotesque in the books and she is described as having a hungry as a hyena like look or something similar. I think it was a fair portrayal . I foundAnna C's bland Lucia much more difficult to deal with and Steve Pemberton's Georgie Pillson very one-dimensional compared to the brilliant Nigel Hawthorne .

I do think it was beautifully set and in some ways was more faithful than the earlier adaptation ( although obviously by basing a whole episode on Queen Lucia far less faithful in others )e.g Evie was expunged from that series - but generally the 1984 adaptation was far more subtle and effective .

[Dave2002]

And now for our heavenly Mozart. You must be patient with me, Georgino, for you know how badly I read. Caro! How difficult it looks! I am frightened! Lucia never saw such a dwefful thing to read!'
And it had been those very bars which Georgie had heard through the open window just now.
'Georgie's is much more dwefful!' he said, remembering the double sharp that came in the second bar. 'Georgie fwightened, too at reading it. O-o-h!' and he gave a little scream. 'Cattivo Mozart, to write anything so dwefful diffy!'

Are there any pieces by Mozart which have double sharps, as suggested in this extract from Queen Lucia?