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« Masterpiece Theatre
April 23, 2006: Under the Greenwood Tree
Thomas Hardy’s lightest and most comedic work, Under the Greenwood Tree is actually a rollicking ode to the goodhearted rural traditions of 1840s town life. Fancy Day, a pretty, educated newcomer, rolls into Mellstock like Madge on a disco dance floor: She overdresses for everything and men everywhere swoon. Specifically, she’s got three suitors: Wealthy Mr. Shiner is ruddy, middle-aged and likable (very different from his portrayal in the book, by the way, where he’s so totally self-satisfied you want to give a shiner to Mr. Shiner); Pastor Maybold is pushy, sanctimonious and snobbish; and Dick Dewy is handsome, charmingly fumbling and as poor as a pocket. Indeed, he is so smitten with Miss Day that his first words of invitation to her are simply: “Party. [Spit. Stutter. Silence.] Party.” (Heck — that woulda won me!) Now not surprising with a child named “Fancy,” Fancy’s papa thinks his daughter is the bee’s knees, and despite her love for Dick (Dick Dewy, you sicko), he will not let his baby marry a penniless man. And thus begins a long and complicated string of pratfalling, mistaken-identity, Three’s Company-style miscommunications and bawling, blubbering tear sessions. A very strange hullabaloo, in my opinion, for such a wan, snaggletoothed creature as Keeley Hawes (although ya gotta love Masterpiece Theatre actors — they’re all pre-tooth caps). After a smokin’ From Here to Eternity beachside scene, some private flask moments in church, and not a few exceedingly harsh words regarding the technological advancement that is the church organ, it all, of course, works out in the end for the sleepy little town of Mellstock and its Fancy Dick.
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Apr 23, 2006 11:09 PM
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Gee, Michelle, are we the only people who watched "Masterpiece Theater"? I thought Under the Greenwood Tree was really charming, even if Keeley Hawes made an unlikely femme fatale. James Murray, on the other hand, was a perfect Dick Dewey. I would have given up Mr. Shiner's wealth for him too.
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Apr 24, 2006 3:13 PM
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I love Masterpiece Theatre..there that's three people.
Keeley makes an excellent femme fatale in "Wives and Daughters"..check it out!
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May 3, 2006 6:58 PM
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All praise bookish folks and period-piece lovers! Masterpiece Theatre is the thinking woman's CliffsNotes, no?
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May 5, 2006 5:27 PM
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You can add me to your list of Masterpiece Theater lovers, I love the historic and romantic adaptations that the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV have to offer!!! I've been so busy that I kept forgetting to tape MT on Sunday nights, I often tape Desperate Housewives at 9:00, and fortunately my local PBS station rebroascasts it at 1:00am and 4:00am. I'm really sorry I missed this most recent program, but maybe I'll catch the next one and add my comments.
I've been watching MT almost since it's inception, and I still am hoping that both series of Poldark from the '70's will be offered on DVD in America soon!
Cheers!
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May 20, 2006 11:37 AM
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