ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Victorian Close-Up

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 7

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Victorian Close-Up

Tn the twentieth cen- I tury we are now taking a closer look at the Victorians, and I, for one, am delighted. Although I would not have liked to have lived in those days, I have always heen half in love with their fripperies and fancies. 1 would have detested their tight lacing and whalebone,' their mutton chop whiskers' and their antimacassars. I would have been infuriated with “papa” presiding over the Sunday roast as smug and self-centred as a cat washing its face. But, on the other hand I would have been enchanted by their parasols, feather boas and fragile feminity. However, I regard those' times as I would regard a beautiful, antique piece of furniture. I can be charmed by the design and patina, as long as I am not close enough to see any worm holes

A Little Fun But. while not delving too deeply into the social aspects and conditions of those times, and treating the subject lightly and a little frivolously, we can all derive a great deal of enjoyment from looking back on Victorian days, and' poking a little quiet fun at 1 them as well. And I feel sure that even Queen Victoria would have been amused at “Steam Sane-

Ititiy, and Song” which I saw | last week. Made by the I 8.8. C. and written by Caryl Brahms (who was co-author with S. J. Simon of “Don't \ Mr Disraeli,” a satire on the ■ Victorian era), this pro- ! gramme reflected the life and , events of the reign of Queen Victoria through the musicj hall songs of the day. Narrated with gentle irony by Sir Michael Redgrave anil Joan Greenwood, “Steam, Sanctity and Song” used con-1 temporary music covers, il-j lustrations and cartoons as background material for a fascinating subject. Here was a programme to I warm the heart and delight: the eye. It was informative, too. One small fact interest-) ed me immensely. I hadn't realised until I saw “Steam. Sanctity and Song” that better methods of transport, caused a rash of new uni- j : forms to appear in those days. Not only were there soldiers ! and policemen to cause the hearts of young females to: beat faster, but there were) the “new” postmen, porters, 1 and bus conductors as well. The Uniforms I realised then, the reason 1 for so many Victorian songs ': about uniforms—it was their ! novelty. And I was overjoyed to welcome the wearers to my screen, where their) ' magnificent moustaches and ' flashing eyes thrilled this gen-i ■ eration as.much as their own.'

Not all the dashing males ■in “Steam, Sanctity and Song” were in uniform, how- ■ ever. Even the Beatles could not compete with the mash- . ers, dandies, beaus and toffs . who strutted and ogled their I I tight-trousered way across my: , screen, with an elegance and . verve which would have had : any Victorian miss swooning and calling faintly for smell- ! ing salts. , Judging by “Steam. Sane- ■ tity and Song”, the Victorians) . knew how to sing well. Not; ; for them electric guitars and i garbled repetitious words. 1 They sang about the Empire, I ■the Queen, and almost every 1 'aspect of Victorian life—sometimes sentimentally and sometimes satirically. They sang about the Crystal Palace, and they sang about the Light Brigade. They sang “We Don’t Want to Fight But By, I Jingo if we Do.” and they; sang “Home Sweet Home.” I One infinitesimal and in-! ) direct result of their singing I was a splendid Victorian hour! Ji crystallised in “Steam, Sanctity and Song.” This is one ■. reason why I am glad I live |in the twentieth century, 1 'have been able to enjoy such a programme on TV. i

i i •I Ditta Pasztory Bartok, ■widow of the composer, has 'emerged from retirement to record his Third Piano Conjeerto and to make a concert itour of major European cities J with Tibor Serly.