Fun afternoon (albeit painfully cramped) at the tiny Orange Tree Theatre this afternoon listening to Martin Jarvis (in his stockinged feet because of squeaky floor covering!) recording a couple of Just William stories for the BBC. I was expecting an audience of small, scruffy boys but apart from a very few - out with grandparents and looking rather bored - well, let's just say that most of the audience could have travelled there on their bus passes. (As did I. I love my bus pass!)
I felt a bit sad that little boys no longer read William; but I've tried to coax them and they don't want to know.
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In the days before Harry Potter, we used to listen to cassette tapes of Martin Jarvis reading 'Just William' on car journeys with the family. To be honest I think they amused my husband and I more than the children as we could relate to the world of jumble sales, amateur dramatics and cold houses smelling slightly of cabbage and damp. I can remember the boredom of going to see elderly powdery great aunts with uncomfortable horsehair sofas ( a nightmare on my thighs when dressed in my finery and wearing white knee socks). They had waxed fruit on the table, as well as crocheted doilies and the stalest orange squash ....never mind their rich tea biscuits.,
It's times like this when you suddenly realise that you grew up in the olden days- such a different world.
Have a good week,
LA
If I read William books now, I hear Martin Jarvis in my head. He made his William the definitive one.
Martin Jarvis is wonderful doing William & co., and Wodehouse!
He did a wonderful Aunt Augusta yesterday, Lesley Anne.
I love his voice Callmemadam. And it was so interesting to see the recording - so fluent and only a couple of teeny mistakes that had to be recorded again.
He's doing Jeeves next week, Cornflower - sold out but fingers crossed for returns.
I've been to the Orange Tree and it is tiny!
I love 'Just William'. I've got both books and tapes but neither of my two younger grandsons really got 'it'. Such a shame....
I don't think they relate to that world of aunts and stern fathers and Outlaws, Veronica - but give me William over the Wimpy Kid any day.
The Orange Tree is fine if you're downstairs but it's a painful squeeze for plus-size ladies upstairs!
I adored William growing up in the '70s. Must re-read them to see if the magic is still there. I even used to like his sister Ethel!
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